A Theoretical Framework for Occupational Health Governance in Nigeria’s Informal Economy: Towards a New Policy Paradigm

Nigeria's informal economy employs approximately 80 percent of the working-age population, yet existing occupational health governance frameworks are designed primarily for formal sector enterprises, leaving the majority of workers structurally unprotected. This doctoral study develops and validates a theoretical framework for occupational health governance applicable to Nigeria's informal economy, drawing on Regulatory Theory, New Institutional Economics, and the Capabilities Approach. Using a multi-phase mixed-methods design, Phase One conducted systematic literature synthesis of occupational health governance models from 22 low- and middle-income countries. Phase Two undertook qualitative fieldwork through 60 expert key informant interviews and 12 participatory focus groups across six geopolitical zones. Phase Three used Delphi consensus methodology with 35 occupational health policy experts to validate the proposed framework. The resulting Informal Economy Occupational Health Governance Framework integrates five pillars: adaptive regulation, community-based occupational health delivery, social protection linkages, participatory monitoring, and intersectoral collaboration. The framework is operationalized through a multi-level governance architecture that positions trade associations, local government health authorities, and community health workers as primary implementation agents. This research contributes an original theoretical contribution to occupational health policy science in low-income settings and provides the basis for a comprehensive reform agenda for Nigeria's National Occupational Safety and Health Policy. Keywords: occupational health governance, informal economy, theoretical framework, Nigeria, policy reform.