Hon. Amobi Ogah, the federal lawmaker representing Isuikwuato Umunneochi Federal Constituency in Abia State, has sparked a nationwide conversation after introducing a bold and controversial bill aimed at redefining the accountability of Nigeria’s public servants. The proposed legislation seeks to bar all public and civil servants from enrolling their children in private schools or seeking medical care in private hospitals.
The bill, introduced during Tuesday’s plenary session in the House of Representatives, is designed to restore citizens’ confidence in the country’s public institutions by compelling government officials to depend solely on the services they are charged with managing and maintaining.
In a statement to the press shortly after the bill’s introduction, Hon. Ogah said, “This bill is a turning point for Nigeria. It’s time our public officers stop running to private options and instead fix the public services that serve the majority of our people.”
He emphasized that public institutions have been left in a state of neglect and underdevelopment because government officials and their families consistently avoid them, opting instead for foreign medical trips and elite private schools. This behavior, he said, undermines the quality and growth of public services.
Hon. Ogah drew inspiration from Nigeria’s founding fathers, including Sir Ahmadu Bello, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, and Sir Tafawa Balewa, who attended public or missionary schools and still led the nation with integrity and competence. He stressed that it was time to return to that legacy of trust and investment in national infrastructure.
According to Ogah, the culture of opting for private and overseas services has created a system of inequality and exclusion. He cited alarming statistics to support his case: Nigerians spent over $29 billion on medical tourism during the eight years of former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.
In the education sector, he added, a total of $218.87 million was spent on foreign education in 2023 alone, while the first quarter of 2024 already recorded $38.17 million in spending on international studies—despite the allocation of N1.34 trillion to the health sector in the 2024 national budget.
“If we had the political will to remove fuel subsidy, then we must also find the courage to reform our public schools and hospitals,” Ogah said, underscoring the urgent need for political consistency and accountability in national priorities.
The legislator warned that the continued detachment of Nigeria’s leadership class from public systems undermines national unity and deepens the distrust citizens feel toward the government. He argued that if public servants were legally required to use public schools and hospitals, they would be more motivated to invest in their quality and effectiveness.
Ogah described the bill not just as a legal instrument, but as a broader call to action—a “national wake-up call” that should unite citizens, civil society groups, and the media to demand reform and equity in the country’s essential services.
To rally public support, he announced the launch of a grassroots social media campaign featuring hashtags like #PromoteOurSchoolsAndHealthcareServices and #PrivateInstitutionsAndHealthcareServicesProhibitionBill2025, urging Nigerians to lend their voices to the cause.
“I urge every Nigerian who believes in a better future to support this bill. Let’s rebuild our institutions and give our children a reason to believe in Nigeria again,” Ogah said, calling on fellow lawmakers to see beyond politics and support systemic reform for national progress.[/p>