HOR Moves To Restore Confidence In Nig’s Public Institutions

Member representing Isiuakwato/Umunneochi, Federal Constituency of Abia State, Godwin Amobi Ogar is pushing a new bill that seeks to ban public and civil servants from patronizing private schools and healthcare facilities, in a bid to restore confidence in Nigeria’s public institutions

The bill, 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 its first reading in the house.
Addressing newsmen in Abuja, Ogar described the bill as timely and critical to reversing the decay in the country’s education and health sectors.

He argued that overdependence of the Nigerian elite on private institutions has contributed to the collapse of public services and caused a massive capital flight.

“Our founding fathers Ahmadu Bello, Nnamdi Azikiwe, Tafawa Balewa were all products of public schools

“Today, public officials no longer trust the institutions they are paid to maintain. This has fueled a dangerous culture of educational and medical tourism.”

The Lawmaker pointed out that while the federal government allocated N1.336 trillion to health in the 2024 budget, Nigerians still spend over N1.6 trillion annually on treatment abroad. Between 2015 and 2023,

He also noted that the country lost more than $29 billion to medical expenses overseas, while foreign education cost another $218 million in 2023 alone.

The lawmaker said the bill if passed, would mandate public servants and their immediate families to use only government-run schools and hospitals.

Ogah said the move would eliminate conflicts of interest and compel needed reforms and investments in public services.

“It’s time to be patriotic,” he said. “If we can remove fuel subsidy, we can certainly enforce this bill for the greater good.”

He urged the media and the public to support the legislation, calling for a national shift in mindset.

Oduyemi Odumade, Edited By Grace Namiji