By Cynthia Okere Lagos
The House of Representatives has passed the Occupational Health and Safety Bill, 2025, for a second reading.
The proposed law aims to provide a stronger and more comprehensive legal framework for the safety, health, and welfare of workers across all workplaces in the country.
The bill seeks to repeal the existing Factories Act, Cap F1, LFN, 2004, a law widely criticized for being narrow in scope, weak in enforcement, and rooted in outdated industrial-era policies
The current Factories Act, which dates back to a 1958 law, primarily focuses on traditional industrial settings, failing to address the realities of modern work.
Labour unions, safety advocates, and even international bodies like the ILO have long pointed out its shortcomings, noting that it excludes large segments of the workforce and contributes to the underreporting and undercompensation of frequent workplace accidents.
Key Changes, Expanded Coverage
If enacted, the Occupational Health and Safety Act, 2025, will significantly expand coverage beyond traditional factories to include other modern workspaces, potentially addressing non-industrial labour and remote work arrangements.
The legislation is sponsored by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu and six other lawmakers.
Co-sponsor David Zachariah emphasized that the proposal is a crucial intervention for Nigerian workers necessarily because the current framework no longer reflects modern work patterns.
Economic, Legislative Next Steps
Supporters argue that adopting globally recognized safety frameworks will also enhance Nigeria’s attractiveness to foreign investors who demand compliance with international labour standards.
The bill was passed without opposition during Thursday’s plenary session.
Deputy Speaker Kalu, who presided, referred the bill to two key committees for further legislative work: the Committees on Labour, Employment and Productivity, and Safety Standards and Regulations.
Its eventual enactment would mark a major step in modernizing Nigeria’s labour protection regime, enhancing accountability across public and private sectors, and fostering a proactive national culture of risk prevention and workers welfare.
On their part, the Society of Occupational and Environmental Health Physicians of Nigeria (SOEHPON) pledged their support for the bill saying they have been working with lawmakers to ensure the bill’s passage and improve occupational health and safety practices across all sectors, including the informal economy.
SOEHPON, along with other organizations like the Nigerian Labour Congress, have been key advocates for this legislation to provide legal protection for workers.
The initiative is part of a larger effort by SOEHPON to advance occupational health in Nigeria, including expanding protections to informal workers and ensuring employers are held accountable for workplace safety.