Ogah described it as a “turning point,” aimed at restoring faith in public institutions and ending conflicts of interest in service delivery.
The House of Representatives on Tuesday passed for first reading a bill seeking to ban public and civil servants, along with their immediate families, from patronising private schools and healthcare facilities in Nigeria.
The bill, sponsored by Hon. Amobi Godwin Ogah of Isuikwuato/Umunneochi Federal Constituency, is titled the “Private Institutions and Health Care Service Providers (Prohibition) Bill, 2025.”
Ogah described it as a “turning point,” aimed at restoring faith in public institutions and ending conflicts of interest in service delivery. “This Bill intends to prohibit all public and civil servants, including their immediate family members, from patronizing private schools and healthcare services in order to avoid conflict of interest, maintain public trust, and ensure high, uncompromised standards and integrity,” he said.
Referencing Nigeria’s founding leaders, Ogah lamented the elite’s shift from public to private services. He cited over $1 billion spent annually on foreign healthcare, and $218.87 million spent on foreign education in 2023.
“If we have started the removal of petroleum subsidy, we must also enforce this Bill,” he added, urging national support using #PromoteOurSchoolsAndHealthcareServices.