Reps Push Bill to Ban Public Servants, Families from Using Private Schools and Hospitals

Story written by okafor joseph july 23,2025

House of Reps Moves to Ban Public Officials, Families from Private Schools and Hospitals

The House of Representatives has advanced a bill that seeks to bar public and civil servants, including their immediate families, from accessing private schools and hospitals, in a bold move to restore faith in Nigeria’s public institutions.

The proposed legislation, titled the Private Institutions and Health Care Service Providers (Prohibition) Bill, 2025, passed its second reading on Tuesday. It was sponsored by Hon. Amobi Ogah, representing the Isuikwuato/Umunneochi Federal Constituency of Abia State.

Speaking with journalists after the plenary session, Ogah said the bill aims to compel public officials to use the same education and healthcare services they oversee, thereby promoting accountability and strengthening the nation’s public systems.

“It’s unacceptable that top government officials routinely seek medical care abroad or enroll their children in foreign schools, while Nigeria’s public institutions suffer neglect,” Ogah stated.

Bill Aims to Curb Overreliance on Private, Foreign Facilities

Ogah noted that the widespread use of private and foreign services by Nigeria’s elite has fueled the decay of public hospitals and schools, creating a sharp divide between the elite and the average citizen.

“Our public facilities have become a shadow of themselves due to a lack of investment and oversight. If those in charge are forced to use them, standards will naturally improve,” he added.

He cited data to underscore the scale of the issue. Between 2015 and 2023, during former President Buhari’s tenure, Nigerians reportedly spent $29.29 billion on medical tourism, while $38.17 million was spent on foreign education in the first quarter of 2024 alone.

Previous Attempts Failed, But Optimism Grows

Although past efforts to pass similar legislation — including a 2019 bill to prohibit foreign medical trips by public officials — were unsuccessful, Ogah is optimistic that the current climate of reform and public accountability will allow this bill to succeed.

“This bill is about patriotism and restoring public trust. We must promote confidence in our own institutions and project Nigeria as a nation capable of taking care of its own,” he said.

If passed, the bill would mandate all government officials and their dependents to receive medical treatment in public hospitals and enroll their children in public schools, unless their location or a specific condition justifies an exception.

The legislation is expected to spark widespread debate across political, social, and policy circles, with many Nigerians likely to support the move as a step toward ending government neglect of vital public services.

The bill now awaits further legislative scrutiny in committee before moving to the third reading