In a move stirring nationwide debate, the House of Representatives has introduced a groundbreaking bill that seeks to prohibit Nigerian civil servants from patronizing private schools and hospitals. The proposal, according to lawmakers, is aimed at revitalizing public institutions by ensuring those in government directly experience the systems they help oversee.
The bill, sponsored by Honourable Sergius Ogun, argues that Nigeria’s public education and healthcare systems will never improve if policymakers continue to bypass them for private alternatives. By mandating that civil servants, including political office holders, enroll their children in public schools and use government-owned hospitals, the bill aims to create firsthand accountability and drive meaningful reform from within.
“You cannot fund what you do not use. If our leaders are required to sit in the same hospital waiting rooms and send their children to the same schools as ordinary Nigerians, things will change,” Honourable Ogun stated during plenary.
If passed into law, the bill would apply to all categories of civil servants—local, state, and federal—and could dramatically reshape the relationship between government officials and public services. Supporters see it as a courageous step toward equity and public trust, while critics argue it infringes on personal freedom and sidesteps deeper structural issues.
Nigerians have taken to social media and talk shows, with many praising the bill as long overdue. Others are calling for even bolder reforms to ensure accountability and quality across all sectors.
This proposal comes at a time when Nigeria continues to battle infrastructural decay in its public institutions. With growing frustration over the state of government schools and hospitals, the bill taps into a sentiment shared by millions: leaders must lead by example.