A proposed bill in Nigeria’s House of Representatives that would prohibit public officials from using private healthcare and education facilities has sparked widespread debate about accountability and public service delivery.
The legislation, introduced by Hon. Amobi Ogah of Abia State, aims to compel government officials to utilise the same public institutions they are responsible for maintaining, with proponents arguing this would force improvements in these critical sectors.
The bill comes amid growing public frustration over Nigeria’s deteriorating public infrastructure, particularly in healthcare and education.
Many government hospitals and schools lack basic facilities, with some experts describing public universities as “glorified secondary schools” and government hospitals as “mortuaries” due to their poor conditions.
Critics argue this systemic neglect persists because officials who control sector budgets exclusively use private alternatives – both within Nigeria and abroad – for their personal needs.
Hon. Ogah’s proposed legislation, titled ‘Private Institutions and Healthcare Service Providers (Prohibition) Bill, 2025’, would ban all public servants and their immediate families from accessing private medical care or education.
The lawmaker contends this measure would eliminate conflicts of interest, restore public trust, and ensure officials prioritise improving public institutions that serve ordinary Nigerians.
Supporters of the bill believe forcing officials to depend on public services would create urgent motivation to upgrade facilities. However, some analysts question the enforceability of such restrictions and whether they address deeper systemic issues like corruption and mismanagement of public funds.
The debate continues as Nigerians await further legislative action on the proposal, which represents a radical approach to addressing longstanding governance failures in the country’s social sectors.
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cc: Daily Post Ng
