The House of Representatives is proposing a law that would criminalise the use of services rendered by private schools and their hospital counterpart by civil servants.
The proposal titled: “A Bill for an Act to Prohibit Public and Civil Servants from Patronizing Private Schools and Health Care Services and for Related Matters (HB 2487)” is sponsored by Hon. Amobi Godwin Ogah, and introduced on Tuesday.
Speaking to newsmen after the session, Ogah says the proposed law which would bar civil servants and their immediate families from using private hospitals and schools, becomes necessary in order to restore confidence in public institutions.
“This bill intends to prohibit all public and civil servants, including their immediate family members, from patronising private schools and healthcare services in order to avoid conflict of interest, maintain public trust and ensure high uncompromised standards and integrity of these public institutions,” Ogah said.
The lawmaker representing Isuikwuato/Umunneochi federal constituency, Abia State, claimed that the patronage of foreign and privately-owned schools and hospitals by civil servants contributed substantially to the decay of Nigeria’s public education and healthcare systems.
Ogah decried the level of capital flight associated with medical and educational tourism, revealing that Nigerians spent over $29.29 billion on foreign medical treatment during the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, while at least $218.87 million went into foreign education in 2023 alone.
“If we have started the removal of petroleum subsidy, we must also enforce this bill to prohibit the patronising of private schools and healthcare services by public and civil servants,” he demanded.
