A bill introduced in the House of Representatives aims to prohibit public and civil servants from using private healthcare and educational institutions. During Tuesday’s plenary in Abuja, the bill, sponsored by Abia State lawmaker Amobi Ogah; was introduced for the first reading.
According to him, the purpose of the bill was to prevent all civil servants and public employees, as well as their close relatives, from utilizing private healthcare and education facilities in the nation.
He stated: “Before Nigeria attained independence and became a republic, our foremost statesmen were educated in government schools. “Sir Ahmadu Bello attended Sokoto Provincial School and Katsina Training College (now Barewa College), Nnamdi Azikiwe went to Holy Trinity College and Christ Church School in Onitsha. “Likewise Chief Obafemi Awolowo and Alhaji Tafawa Balewa.”
According to Ogah, today’s public officials’ preference for private institutions is harmful to the advancement of the country.
He said, “It has become an unwholesome trend for public and civil servants to seek private educational and healthcare services for themselves and their families, to the detriment of our economy
According to him, the nation spent an estimated N1.6 trillion, or more than $1 billion, a year on medical care overseas, even though the Federal Government only set aside N1.33 trillion for healthcare in the 2024 budget. Ogah recalled that during the late former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, Nigerians spent at least $29.29 billion on medical bills abroad.
The lawmaker said, “In the education sector, Nigerians spent $38.17 million on foreign education between January and March 2024, and $218.87 million in 2023. “The time for truth is now. We cannot continue damaging the psyche of Nigerians.
“If we can remove petroleum subsidies, we must also take bold steps to reform public service behaviour by passing this bill,”
