Amobi Ogah has lamented that continuous reliance on private and foreign institutions has rendered Nigeria’s schools and hospitals a shadow of themselves
In a bold move aimed at reviving public confidence in Nigeria’s education and healthcare sectors, the House of Representatives has introduced a bill seeking to prohibit public and civil servants from patronising private schools and medical facilities.
The proposed legislation, 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),” passed first reading during Tuesday’s plenary session.
Addressing journalists at the National Assembly, the bill’s sponsor, Rep. Amobi Godwin Ogah, said the measure is designed to compel government officials and their immediate families to use public institutions, thereby setting a standard of accountability and helping to restore quality in the system.
According to him, the mass departure of government officials from public to private and foreign institutions has directly contributed to the decay of Nigeria’s healthcare and education infrastructure.
“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 stated.
He described the legislation as a turning point in the effort to reposition Nigeria’s public sector, noting that the country’s founding fathers including Sir Ahmadu Bello, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, and Sir Tafawa Balewa were products of public schools, a sharp contrast to the present trend where officials shun government facilities.
Ogah decried the staggering capital flight linked to educational and medical tourism, revealing that Nigerians spent over $29.29 billion on foreign medical treatment during the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, while another $218.87 million was expended on foreign education in 2023 alone.
“In contrast, only ₦1.336 trillion was allocated to healthcare in the 2024 national budget, far less than the estimated ₦1.6 trillion Nigerians spend annually on treatment abroad,” he said.
He argued that the same determination with which the government removed fuel subsidy must also be applied in ensuring that public servants lead by example in strengthening national institutions.
“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,” Ogah insisted.
He lamented that the continued reliance on private and foreign institutions has rendered Nigeria’s schools and hospitals “a shadow of themselves,” suffering from decayed infrastructure and declining standards.
The lawmaker stressed that the bill, if passed, would not only restore public confidence in government-run institutions but also reverse the trend of top officials seeking medical attention abroad—and in some cases, dying in foreign hospitals.
Calling for widespread support, Ogah urged Nigerians, especially the media, to rally behind the proposed law and embrace a new culture of patriotism and national consciousness.
“We must promote and revitalise Nigeria’s public institutions. This is the only way to rebuild trust and deliver quality services for all,” he said.
