Reps Reject Bill Seeking To Stop Public Officers’ Children From Schooling Abroad

The House of Representatives has rejected a bill seeking to stop children of public officials from seeking education abroad.

Naija News reports that the bill sponsored by Hon. Sergius Ogun (PDP – Edo) seeks to stop public officials from diverting public funds to their children’s education abroad.

The bill is Titled “A Bill for an Act to Regulate International Studies for Wards and Children of Nigerians Public Officers, So as to Strengthen Indigenous Institutions to Provide Efficient Educational Service for National Development.”

In his lead debate on the general principle of the bill, Ogun said the objectives of the bill included strengthening indigenous educational institutions to meet global standards.

He added that the bill will boost the economy by reducing cash flight and foreign exchange, reducing brain drain and instituting good welfare conditions for indigenous academics, experts and professionals based abroad to come back home and develop their country with their skills and expertise.

The lawmaker added that the bill will help build a better society by developing formidable educational institutions and facilitating the realization of the fundamental objectives and policies of state enshrined in Chapter two of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (As Amended).

But speaking against the bill, Hon. Chinyere Igwe (PDP, Rivers) said they had the right to train their children anywhere without using public funds.

Igwe stated that the bill offends fundamental human rights which guarantees freedom of movement, adding that most public officers that send their children to school abroad don’t do that with public funds.

Corroborating Igwe’s position, Hon. Ossai Nicholas Ossai (PDP, Delta), said it was against the constitution, stressing that the bill is illegal.

After the bill was roundly debated, it was eventually rejected when put to voice vote.