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By Tracy Moses
In a bold legislative move, the lawmaker representing Isuikwuato/Umunneochi Federal Constituency of Abia State, Rt. Hon. Amobi Godwin Ogah, has sponsored a bill aimed at barring public and civil servants, as well as their immediate family members, from utilizing private schools and medical facilities nationwide.
Addressing the press on Tuesday in Abuja, Hon. Ogah unveiled the proposal titled A Bill for an Act to Prohibit Public and Civil Servants from Patronizing Private Schools and Healthcare Services and for Related Matters (HB 2487). He said the legislation is designed to restore public confidence and accountability in Nigeria’s education and health sectors.
“This Bill represents a watershed moment for our country,” Ogah stated. “It’s imperative that we eliminate conflicting interests and compel public officials to actively engage in revamping the very institutions they oversee, instead of fleeing to private alternatives.”
He referenced the educational backgrounds of Nigeria’s founding leaders, Sir Ahmadu Bello, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, and Sir Tafawa Balewa, who all attended public or mission schools, yet emerged as exceptional visionaries. According to Ogah, today’s preference for private education and healthcare by government functionaries has led to a disturbing decline in public service standards.
Ogah also criticized the massive capital flight due to medical and educational tourism. Citing official figures, he noted that Nigerians spent at least $29.29 billion on overseas medical treatments during the eight-year tenure of the late President Muhammadu Buhari. In 2023 alone, $218.87 million was spent on foreign education, while the first quarter of 2024 recorded an additional $38.17 million outflow for the same purpose.
“Despite allocating N1.336 trillion to the health sector in the 2024 budget, Nigerians still channel over $1 billion abroad annually for healthcare. This is unsustainable,” he lamented. “If we could remove the fuel subsidy, then we must equally find the courage to reform our public institutions.”
The lawmaker stressed that the continued neglect of public institutions by those in power breeds public distrust and worsens the decay of essential services.
“This bill is more than just legislation, it’s a call to national rebirth. We must put an end to the culture of medical and educational tourism among public servants and reinvest in what we have.”
Ogah called on journalists, civil society organizations, and the public at large to support the bill and encourage a renewed sense of ownership and pride in public institutions. He also announced a social media advocacy campaign to raise public consciousness, under the hashtags:
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“I’m appealing to all well-meaning Nigerians to back this transformative bill. Together, we can restore the people’s trust and build a future where our children can believe in the Nigerian system,” he said.
The proposed legislation was read for the first time on the floor of the House of Representatives on Tuesday, officially commencing its journey through the National Assembly.