OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH: LEGAL AND INSTITUTIONAL CHANGES IN NIGERIA

Abstract

This paper examined public health and occupational health in Nigeria with focus on laws, institutions, and changing dynamics. Historically, public health governance in Nigeria was anchored on the Public Health Act of 1917 and later the National Health Act, 2014, while occupational health was regulated under the Factories Act, 1987 and Employees’ Compensation Act, 2010. Key institutions such as the Federal Ministry of Health, NCDC, and NESREA were established to coordinate health responses. However, the sector faced issues including weak enforcement of laws, poor funding, fragmented institutional mandates, inadequate occupational safety compliance, and rising burden of communicable and non-communicable diseases. Challenges were compounded by urbanization, informal sector growth, and weak data systems, which limited effective regulation. The paper concluded that despite reforms, implementation gaps persisted. It recommended harmonization of health laws, strengthening of regulatory institutions, increased budgetary allocation, and adoption of risk-based inspection to improve public and occupational health outcomes in Nigeria.