REVISED NATIONAL POLICY ON OSH

What Is This Policy?

The Revised National Policy on Occupational Safety and Health establishes Nigeria's framework for protecting all workers from occupational injuries, diseases, and death. It sets out the rights and responsibilities of employers, workers, and government in creating safe, healthy working environments across all sectors of the Nigerian economy.

Who Does It Target?

All employers in the public and private sectors, including the informal economy Workers in all industries, with priority on high-risk sectors: construction, mining, manufacturing, oil and gas, and agriculture State and Federal labour inspectors responsible for compliance monitoring and enforcement Trade unions and employer associations with collective bargaining responsibilities for safety standards

What Does It Aim to Achieve?

Prevent occupational accidents, diseases, and fatalities through proactive risk management and legal compliance Build a national OSH culture where safety is treated as a fundamental worker right, not an optional corporate expense Establish a coordinated national OSH system with clear institutional mandates and mandatory reporting Align Nigeria's OSH framework with ILO Convention No. 155 and international best practice

Key Features

Three Duty Holders: Policy assigns specific OSH duties to government (legislation and enforcement), employers (risk elimination at source), and workers (active participation in safety programmes) Risk Assessment Mandate: All workplaces required to conduct formal hazard identification and risk assessments, document findings, and implement control measures OSH Management Systems: Employers encouraged to adopt formal OSH management systems aligned with ILO Guidelines or ISO 45001 Labour Inspectorate: Federal and State Labour Inspectorates have powers to enter workplaces, conduct inspections, issue improvement and prohibition notices, and prosecute non-compliant employers Worker Rights to Refuse Unsafe Work: Workers have the right to refuse work that presents an imminent and serious danger, without fear of dismissal or penalty OSH Data and Reporting: Mandatory reporting of occupational accidents, injuries, and diseases to FMLE for national OSH statistics

Current Status

Rollout Stage: Active; 2020 revised edition in force; Nigeria OSH Profile 2020 published jointly with ILO Implementing Body: Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment (FMLE); State Ministries of Labour; Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) Coverage: National, all sectors; priority enforcement in construction, oil and gas, manufacturing, and mining Key Gap: Informal sector workers, who represent over 80% of Nigeria's workforce, remain largely outside formal OSH protection Funding: FMLE labour inspectorate budget, ILO technical cooperation, and NSITF levy contributions

How to Access

Employers: Download the OSH Policy and sector-specific guidelines from labour.gov.ng; conduct workplace risk assessments and establish a safety committee if you have 5 or more employees Workers: Report unsafe conditions to the Labour Inspectorate or FMLE complaints desk; exercise your right to refuse imminently dangerous work Compensation Claims: File occupational injury claims through NSITF: nsitf.gov.ng Contact: Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment: labour.gov.ng | NSITF: nsitf.gov.ng

Official Resources

Website: labour.gov.ng | nsitf.gov.ng Contact: Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, Phase I Federal Secretariat Annex II, Shehu Shagari Way, Abuja Policy Summary | Source: FMLE, ILO Nigeria, Nigeria OSH Profile 2020, Employee Compensation Act, NSITF | February 2026

Legal Framework

Issued as a national policy under the authority of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment. Operates under the Employees' Compensation Act 2010, the Factories Act (Cap F1 LFN 2004), and the Labour Act (Cap L1 LFN 2004). Aligns with ILO Conventions No. 155 (Occupational Safety and Health), No. 187 (Promotional Framework for Occupational Safety and Health), and the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) Act 2007.