A bill designed to regulate the practice of public officers enrolling their children and wards in foreign schools was shut down by lawmakers in the House of Representatives on Thursday.
The bill was sponsored by Sergius Ogun (PDP, Ogun).
The bill stipulated that a public officer can only send his/her children or wards to foreign schools after approval of the Minister of Education. It equally required public officers to provide proof of ability to pay the school fees of his/her wards before initiating the process.
A similar bill introduced by the same lawmaker was thrown out during the 8th Assembly.
Leading the debate on the bill, Ogun explained, “This bill is proposed against the background of fallen standards in our educational system and the need to bring the sector up to speed with global best standards. Unfortunately, as a result of the inability of the government to provide quality education in its public educational institutions, Nigerians have resorted to private schools and foreign schools for their education.
“The United Kingdom, United States of America, Ukraine, Ghana, Malaysia, Egypt, and South Africa, just to mention a few, have become choice destinations for Nigerians in search of quality education.
“The trouble with this is that most of those who patronize private-owned educational institutions or those who travel abroad to study are children and wards of Nigerian public officers. These are the officers who should take responsibility for the building of our public institutions.
“For me, this would yield a counter-product result in our drive for national development. I believe that public officers should be subjected to the utility of the public institutions which they are responsible for building and maintaining.”
Opposing the bill however, Chiyere Igwe (PDP, Rivers), said, “As far as I am concerned, this bill offends the fundamental human rights of Nigerians, which guarantee freedom of movements. The constitution gives you absolute rights to move about. So, by this bill, you are offending the constitution, hence, it is null and void.
“The public officers that send their wards to schools, not all of them are in control of public funds. I stand as Chiyere Igwe, and I can say that I do not control public. If I send my children to school abroad, have I done any wrong?
“By the Code of Conduct Act, you are only allowed to farm, with this bill, you are infringing on the constitution.”
Other who spoke against the bill were Nicholas Ossai (PDP, Delta) and the Deputy Minority Leader, Toby Okechukwu (PDP, Enugu).
Members in the end, voted against the bill.
