Home » How Suspended NHIS Boss Retains His Position Despite Corruption Allegation

How Suspended NHIS Boss Retains His Position Despite Corruption Allegation

On Monday, about fifty (50) policemen broke the gates to the headquarters of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) and escorted the suspended Executive Secretary, Professor Usman Yusuf, into the premises.
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The Policemen fired teargas to disperse members of staff, who had attempted to prevent Usman from gaining entry into the office premises.
Usman is believed in many quarters to be one of the cabals in Aso Rock.
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The NHIS boss, who was suspended by the Governing Council of the NHIS, insisted that the Board had no power to suspend him.
Recall that Yusuf, who was suspended by the Minister of Health, Professor Isaac Adewole, in July, last year, and indicted for an alleged N919 million fraud, was controversially reinstated by President Muhammadu Buhari, on February 6, 2018.
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In a letter with a reference number, ‘SH/COS/10/6/A/29’, signed by the Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari, the President had informed the Minister of Yusuf’s recall, adding that, he (Yusuf) had been “admonished to work harmoniously with the Minister”.
However, the Governing Board of the NHIS, on Thursday, announced the indefinite suspension of Yusuf, and appointed Sadiq Abubakar as the Acting Executive Secretary.
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?At a briefing in Abuja, on Thursday, the Chairman of the NHIS Board, Dr. Enyantu Ifenne, accused Yusuf of insubordination, fraud, arbitrariness, and other corrupt practices.
Ifenne said: “The Council has met. We have been inundated with petitions. We also observed some executive infractions that we cannot ignore, especially in an administration that is committed to transparency and accountability, like Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.
?“So, with detailed examination or review of some of these documents, the Council has made some landmark decisionsThe first decision is that we have resolved to constitute an Administrative Panel of Investigation immediately, to examine the issues at stake.
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“This Administrative Panel has three months to complete its assignment, and report back to the Council, to decide on the way forward.”
?She said that Yusuf was suspended, to allow for unencumbered unfettered space, to do a thorough investigation.
“Also, I want you to know that we consulted and got the approval of the Honourable Minister of Health, because we came to this decision”, she added.
Asked if the Council had such powers, Ifenne responded: “Our power is derived from the law. We base our decisions on the provisions of the law. We base our decision on the provisions of the law that allows the NHIS Governing Council to take expedite and appropriate actions, to make sure that the objectives of the Scheme are achieved.”

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