The Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme,
NHIS, Usman Yusuf, has told Health Minister Isaac Adewole that he is not
proceeding on suspension as directed by the minister.Usman who came on board as NHIS boss last year, was given a marching order by Adewole, to proceed on suspension for three months following mounting petitions against him on alleged fraudulent practices and nepotism by concerned groups.
The minister had, through a July 6, 2017 memo, asked the ES to proceed on a three- month suspension to allow for an uninterrupted investigation of petitions against him in accordance with the Public Service Rules.
But Yusuf, responding in a letter dated July 12,2017, said : “Except removed from office by the president under circumstances specified in the NHIS Act, my appointment is for a period of five years subject to further term of the same period at the discretion of the president.”
“Consequently, you are directed to proceed on three months suspension with immediate effect to pave way for an uninterrupted investigation, in accordance with Public Service Rule”, the letter said.
However, in a daring tone, Prof Usman fired back at the Health Minister on July 12, telling him that he could not proceed on the suspension as the minister lacks the power to sanction him.
He told Adewole that it was only the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, who appointed him, that could remove him from office, which has tenure of five years in the first instance and another five, if renewed.
According to the statement signed by the health ministry’s spokesperson, Boade Akinola, Mr. Yusuf, being a public officer, is bound by the regulations governing the Public Service.
Akinola, in a statement, said:”The NHIS is an agency supervised by the Federal Ministry of Health and the Administrative Panel of Inquiry raised by the ministry to investigate activities of the agency has commenced its assignment with specific terms of reference.”
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