In a critical move to bolster public health safety, the House of Representatives has called for the immediate installation of Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) across all federal government institutions, schools, and high-traffic public buildings in Nigeria.
The motion, moved by Hon. Muktar Tolani Shagaya during Thursday’s plenary, comes as a direct response to a series of tragic, high-profile deaths involving public servants who collapsed while on official duty.
Hon. Shagaya drew the House’s attention to a heartbreaking timeline of recent fatalities within government premises, arguing that these lives might have been saved had immediate medical intervention been available:
June 24, 2024: Andrew Essien, a senior official of the Nigerian Customs Service, slumped and died within the National Assembly Complex.
December 11, 2025: The sitting Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State collapsed and died during a public engagement.
January 5, 2026: Pharmacist Bilkisu, a female public servant, slumped and died while addressing colleagues in her office.
“These deaths occurred within official environments where immediate access to an AED could have provided a timely, life-saving intervention,” Shagaya lamented. He noted that survival rates for cardiac arrest drop drastically for every minute that defibrillation is delayed.
The House observed that while countries like the UAE, Canada, and the United States have made AEDs mandatory in public spaces, Nigeria’s Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) remain largely unprepared for cardiac emergencies.
The lawmaker emphasized that AEDs are designed to be used by non-medical personnel to restore normal heart rhythm, making them essential tools for workplace safety.
“The provision of defibrillators in government institutions is no longer optional; it is an urgent public health and moral necessity,” the motion stated.
To prevent further avoidable loss of life, the House passed the following resolutions:
Immediate Installation: The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare is urged to ensure AEDs are installed in all federal institutions, schools, NYSC camps, religious houses, and the National Assembly Complex.
Training and Maintenance: MDAs are required to ensure the visible placement of these devices, conduct regular maintenance, and provide mandatory staff training on CPR and AED usage.
Strict Compliance: The Committees on Health and Legislative Compliance have been mandated to oversee the rollout and ensure prompt implementation across the federation.
The House concluded that bridging this gap in emergency preparedness is a fundamental step in protecting the lives of millions of Nigerians who frequent public buildings daily.
