By Uwem Essien
PREAMBLE
Rep. Amobi Godwin Ogah is a member of the House of Representatives representing Isuikwuato/Umunneochi Federal Constituency, Abia State.
He is the sponsor of the bill seeking to prohibit all public and civil servants, including their immediate family members from patronizing private schools and healthcare services.
The bill titled; “Private Institutions and Healthcare Service Providers (Prohibition) Bill, 2025 (HB2487), aims to restore confidence in Nigeria’s public schools and hospitals, according to Ogah.
In a parley with journalists at the National Assembly, Ogah provided the motivation for the bill.
“Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, today marks a turning point in the history of our Nation as I move for the passage of the Bill on Private Institutions and Health Care Service Providers (Prohibition) Bill, 2025. This Bill intends to prohibit all Public and Civil Servants, including their immediate Family members from patronizing Private Schools and Health care services in order to avoid conflict of interest, maintain public trust and ensure high uncompromised standards and integrity of these public institutions.
“Before Nigeria attained independence and became a republic, our foremost Statesmen all had their education in government schools. Sir Ahmadu Bello went to Sokoto Provincial school and Katsina Training College, now Barewa College, while Nnamdi Azikiwe went to a mission school, Holy Trinity College and Christ Church school all in Onitsha. Likewise, Chief Obafemi Awolowo and Alhaji Tafawa Balewa”
“The penchant for patronizing private educational institutions and health care services were alien to our democrats of old but today, it has become an unwholesome trend for both public and civil servants to seek private educational institutions and medical care for themselves and their family members to the detriment of the economy of our country.
“In 2024, Nigeria allocated a total of N.336 trillion Naira to health care in the 2024 budget, which is a far cry from the estimated N1.6 trillion Naira or over $1 billion , Nigerians spend annually on medical treatments abroad.
Nigerians also spent at least $29.29 billion on foreign medical expenses during the 8 years of late former President Muhhamadu Buhari’s administration. In education, Nigeria spent $38.17 million on foreign education expenses between January and March, 2024 while in 2023, she spent a whopping $218.87 million”
“I therefore call on Nigerians and indeed the Fourth Estate of the Realm to join me in supporting this Bill and begin a new Consciousness of promoting our health care and educational institution. Let the campaign begin with hashtag:
“Promoteourschoolsandhealthcareservices; #PrivateinstitutionsandhealthcareservicesprovidersprohibitionBill2025“
WHERE THE BILL WOULD FAIL
The bill, if passed, will mandate all public and civil servants to exclusively use public schools and government hospitals, a move Ogah insists will revive Nigeria’s struggling public institutions.
It is however doubtful that Ogah’s call for broad sector support for his Bill, would make any difference.
“Lawmakers should not look outside the political class, or their fellow lawmakers for core support when proposing a bill. They should know that no matter the kind of support offered by the media or civil society, the power to move a bill forward or even pass a bill, is solely dependent on powers outside these sectors. Instead of legislating, what the lawmakers should do is fashion oversights that would make our schools and hospitals to compete with what obtains outside. The change Ogah seeks would be a natural progression if the system gets it right” says Gideon Iloh, a businessman based in Abuja.
For Charles Ikpe, a Management consultant based in Lagos, the issue of our schools and hospitals, being derelict or public and civil servants patronizing foreign schools or hospitals, is a direct consequence of corruption and the complicity of the political class in maintaining the corruption.
“I laugh when I see these bills. The lawmakers can not allow such bills get to even third hearing. How would you tell Mr. President for example not to visit France for medical check-up? How would you tell Governors not to send their children to foreign schools and universities? The Bill would be shot down right inside the legislature. The best antidote would be to make sure we bring our standards and infrastructure to competitive level. Let the lawmakers think. They are not thinking. It is not a must to propose Bills” he said.
WHAT DOES HISTORY SAY? HOW REPS REJECTED SAME BILL IN 2022
Titled ‘ A Bill for an Act to Regulate International Studies for Wards and Children of Nigerians Public Officers, So as to Strengthen Indigenous Institutions to Provide Efficient Educational Service for National Development’ and sponsored by Hon. Sergius Ogun representing Esan North-East Federal Constituency, Edo State, the bill was rejected by the House, because according to them, the bill was an affront to their fundamental human rights.
The underlining principles of the then Ogun Bill is same as the Ogah Bill.
If Ogah had embarked on some research, he would have realized that history is not on his side.
Despite the fine arguments made by Ogun at the time, his colleagues shot the bill down on the excuse stated above.
“The bill does not infringe on the right to family and private life as well as other fundamental rights enshrined in the Constitution. The bill only seeks to regulate the practice of public servants sending their children/wards abroad for studies, while neglecting the development of our indigenous educational institutions” Ogun argued at the time.
“It is clear that bills and more bills, may not be the solution to this problem. What the lawmakers need to do is to understand why our schools and hospitals are being neglected, why the manpower and infrastructure are where they are and design legislative and executive mechanism and will power to stop the rot” says Ekpe Utang, media consultant based in Calabar, Cross River State.
*First published in The Plenary, 27 July 2025
