The House of Representatives is considering a new bill that seeks to bar public officials and civil servants from accessing private schools and healthcare services, a move aimed at restoring confidence in Nigeria’s public institutions.
Titled “A Bill for an Act to Prohibit Public and Civil Servants from Using Private Schools and Health Care Services and for Related Matters (HB 2487),” the proposal was introduced during Tuesday’s plenary session.
Addressing journalists at the National Assembly, the sponsor of the bill, Hon. Amobi Godwin Ogah, said the legislation would require public servants and their immediate families to rely exclusively on public education and health facilities.
Ogah described the bill as a critical step toward addressing the long-standing neglect of public institutions and fostering accountability among those in power.
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“This bill is designed to prohibit public and civil servants, along with their immediate family members, from patronising private schools and healthcare providers,” Ogah stated. “The goal is to eliminate conflicts of interest, uphold public trust, and guarantee the integrity and standard of our public institutions.”
He added that if Nigeria could begin the removal of fuel subsidies, it must also take bold steps to ensure public officials use and invest in the systems they manage.
“If we can take the bold step of removing petroleum subsidies, we must also be courageous enough to enforce this bill and prohibit public servants from relying on private education and healthcare,” he said.
