CALABAR– Nigeria currently has no comprehensive national framework to address psychosocial risks in the workplace, a situation that a senior Cross River State government official says must be urgently rectified to prevent escalating mental health crises, reduced productivity, and weakened human capital development NEGROIDHAVEN has garnered.
Speaking at the 2026 World Day for Safety and Health at Work, organised by the Nigerian Institution of Safety Engineers (NISafetyE) Cross River State Chapter, the Permanent Secretary of the Cross River State Ministry of Works and Infrastructure, Dr. Paul Ugbe Bepeh, declared that the absence of structured policies leaves millions of Nigerian workers exposed to stress, burnout, anxiety, and depression.
“In Nigeria, the challenge of psychosocial workplace risks is both significant and urgent,” Dr. Bepeh said in his address at the Cross River State Ministry of Works, Calabar last week. “Mental health remains underprioritised, and stigma continues to discourage open discussion and help‑seeking behaviour.”
He noted that psychosocial risks – arising from excessive workload, job insecurity, poor leadership, workplace harassment, and lack of work‑life balance – are often underreported in developing countries like Nigeria due to cultural stigma, weak enforcement of occupational safety regulations, economic pressures, and organisational cultures that limit employee voice and autonomy.
To move from awareness to action, the Permanent Secretary proposed six policy recommendations. Foremost among them is the “Establishment of a National Psychosocial Safety Framework” and the “Integration of mental health into labour and workplace regulations.”
He also called for the “Introduction of a mandatory psychosocial risk assessment” for all workplaces, stronger enforcement mechanisms, and the promotion and funding of awareness campaigns and capacity‑building programmes.
“A preventive approach, rather than reactive interventions, is critical,” Dr. Bepeh stressed, adding that a safe workplace “is not only physically secure; it is also psychologically supportive.”
Citing global data from the International Labour Organization and the World Health Organization, he warned that approximately 2.78 million workers die annually from work‑related causes, while depression and anxiety cost the global economy an estimated $1 trillion in lost productivity each year.
Without a national framework, he argued, Nigerian workers in sectors such as education, healthcare, and the civil service will continue to face heavy workloads, poor remuneration, limited psychological support systems, and inadequate policy implementation.
“A nation cannot achieve sustainable development with an unhealthy workforce,” Dr. Bepeh said, urging governments, organisations, and individuals to work collaboratively to create environments where workers do not only survive but also thrive.
He concluded with a call to declare workplace mental health a national priority, and to integrate psychosocial safety into national development plans, educational systems, and workplace policies.
