Managing Occupational Health and Safety Compliance in Nigeria’s Construction Sector: A Legal Framework Analysis

Construction is among the most hazardous industries in Nigeria, yet occupational health and safety compliance remains inconsistent across the sector, with particularly poor standards documented in states experiencing rapid urban expansion such as Abuja and Ogun State. The primary legislative instruments governing construction site safety include the Factories Act and the Employee Compensation Act of 2010, supplemented by building code regulations at state level. This study analyses the legal framework for OHS compliance management in Nigeria's construction sector, assessing regulatory obligations, enforcement practice, and best management approaches adopted by compliant construction firms. A professional practitioner design was employed, incorporating semi-structured interviews with site safety managers, legal risk officers, and Federal Ministry of Labour OHS inspectors. Six construction sites in Abuja were assessed through direct observation, and secondary data was gathered from Employee Compensation Act claims records and industry safety reports from 2019 to 2024. Findings indicate that regulatory inspection capacity is severely limited relative to the scale of the construction industry, creating pervasive opportunities for non-compliance. Employer awareness of Employee Compensation Act obligations is low, and workers rarely receive adequate safety induction training. Recommendations include expanding OHS inspector numbers, mandating OHS legal compliance certification as a condition of project licensing, and establishing a construction industry safety compliance index. This research provides practical legal compliance guidance for construction professionals and site managers in Nigeria. Keywords: occupational health, safety compliance, construction industry, Employee Compensation Act, Nigeria.