The House of Representatives has begun deliberations on a bill that would bar public and civil servants, including their families, from attending private schools or using private hospitals.
News360 Info reports that the proposal, which passed first reading during plenary, was introduced by the representative of Isuikwuato/Umunneochi Federal Constituency in Abia State.
The bill seeks to force government workers to rely only on public services for education and health care.
The lawmaker behind the move said public officers have been avoiding the same schools and hospitals they oversee, leading to neglect and poor conditions in those institutions.
According to him, this trend has encouraged a culture of spending public money on private and foreign services while government-run facilities continue to deteriorate.
He also expressed concern over the amount of money Nigerians spend abroad on education and health, stating that it weakens confidence in local institutions.
Figures shared during his address revealed that Nigeria spent over $38 million on foreign education between January and March 2024 alone, while over $1 billion went into foreign medical trips annually.
He argued that this pattern must end, especially after the removal of petrol subsidies, urging public officials to show example by using the same services available to the citizens they serve.
The bill, if passed, will make it illegal for government employees and their close family members to seek private or overseas schools and medical services.
