The House of Representatives has proposed a new bill to stop civil servants from patronising private hospitals and schools across the country.
The lawmakers of the House of Representatives said the proposed bill is aimed at restoring citizens’ faith in Nigeria’s public institutions, especially the education and health systems.
The new bill titled, “A Bill for an Act to Prohibit Public and Civil Servants from Using Private Schools and Health Care Services and for Related Matters (HB 2487),” was presented before the House on Tuesday.
Speaking during a press conference, Amobi Ogah, the lawmaker representing Isuikwuato/Umuneochi federal Constituency said the new bill when passed into law will mandate all government officials and members of their family to patronise public schools and hospitals.
According to the lawmaker, the proposed bull will serve as a pivotal moment in Nigeria’s efforts to give its public institutions new faces.
Ogah said, “This bill intends to prohibit all public and civil servants, including their immediate family members, from patronising private schools and healthcare services in order to avoid conflict of interest, maintain public trust and ensure high uncompromised standards and integrity of these public institutions.
“If we have started the removal of petroleum subsidy, we must also enforce this bill to prohibit the patronising of private schools and healthcare services by public and civil servants,” the Abia lawmaker noted.