A invoice searching for to ban public and civil servants, together with their speedy households, from utilizing personal colleges and hospitals has handed second studying within the Home of Representatives.
Titled the Personal Establishments and Well being Care Service Suppliers (Prohibition) Invoice, 2025, the proposed regulation is sponsored by Amobi Ogah, a lawmaker representing Isuikwuato/Umunneochi federal constituency of Abia State.
Talking to journalists after Tuesday’s plenary, Ogah mentioned the purpose of the invoice is to advertise public confidence in Nigeria’s colleges and hospitals by compelling officers to make use of the identical providers they administer. Based on him, this is able to assist remove conflicts of curiosity and lift the usual of public establishments.
“It doesn’t communicate properly of our nation that our presidents and notable authorities functionaries are seen to be going overseas for medical remedy and even dying within the course of,” Ogah mentioned.
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The lawmaker additionally argued that over-reliance on personal and overseas amenities has worsened the situation of Nigeria’s public establishments. “Public colleges and healthcare centres have develop into a shadow of themselves, with little or no infrastructural growth,” he mentioned.
Ogah cited figures to help his argument, noting that Nigerians spent $29.29 billion on overseas medical remedy through the Buhari years and one other $38.17 million on overseas training between January and March 2024 alone.
He added: “We should restore confidence in authorities establishments and promote the picture of our nation within the comity of countries.”
Though comparable makes an attempt have failed in earlier assemblies — together with a 2019 invoice to ban overseas medical journeys by public officers — Ogah expressed hope that this proposal would achieve sufficient traction to develop into regulation.
