Reps Move To Ban Civil Servants From Private Hospitals, Schools In Sh*cking New Bill

The House of Representatives has commenced discussions on a proposed bill that seeks to prohibit public and civil servants—as well as their immediate family members—from patronising private schools or healthcare facilities.

The bill, which recently passed its first reading during plenary, was introduced by the representative for Isuikwuato/Umunneochi Federal Constituency in Abia State.

The proposed legislation aims to compel government workers to rely solely on public education and healthcare services, thereby strengthening accountability and improving the quality of these institutions.

According to the lawmaker behind the bill, many public officials deliberately avoid the very schools and hospitals they are tasked with managing, resulting in widespread neglect and underdevelopment. He criticised the increasing trend of public funds being spent on private and foreign alternatives while state-run facilities suffer.

He also raised alarm over Nigeria’s significant expenditure on overseas education and medical tourism, noting that over $38 million was spent on foreign education between January and March 2024 alone, with an estimated $1 billion spent annually on medical trips abroad.

He argued that this pattern is unsustainable—especially in the post-fuel subsidy era—and urged government officials to lead by example by using public services like every other citizen.

If passed into law, the bill would make it unlawful for government employees and their dependents to attend private schools or receive medical treatment abroad or at private facilities.