Executive Secretary Of Nigeria’s NHIS Suspended

Usman Yusuf, executive secretary of the National Health
Insurance Scheme (NHIS), has been suspended for three months by the
minister of health, Isaac Adewole, over allegations of
fraud.
In a letter dated July 6, 2017 seen by our reporter, Adewole said
Yusuf’s response to the petitions written against him were
“considered unsatisfactory”.

An investigative committee to probe the NHIS ES has been set up,
Adewole wrote, and “you are directed to proceed on 3 (three) months
suspension with immediate effect to pave way for an uninterrupted
investigation, in accordance with Public Service Rule”.

He was also directed to hand over to the next most senior
general manager in the agency.

Our reporter understands that the final straw was the purchase
of a Prado SUV by Yusuf for N58 million shortly before Ramadan,
although his approval limit is N2.5 million.

A number of Prado SUVs are already attached to his office, but
he still went ahead to buy a new one, according to insiders.

Since Yusuf was appointed ES on July 29, 2016, he has been
accused of violating every procurement law in the books and dishing
out contracts to cronies.

Usman Yusuf, executive secretary of the National Health
Insurance Scheme (NHIS), has been suspended for three months by the
minister of health, Isaac Adewole, over allegations of
fraud.
In a letter dated July 6, 2017 seen by our reporter, Adewole said
Yusuf’s response to the petitions written against him were
“considered unsatisfactory”.

An investigative committee to probe the NHIS ES has been set up,
Adewole wrote, and “you are directed to proceed on 3 (three) months
suspension with immediate effect to pave way for an uninterrupted
investigation, in accordance with Public Service Rule”.

He was also directed to hand over to the next most senior
general manager in the agency.

Our reporter understands that the final straw was the purchase
of a Prado SUV by Yusuf for N58 million shortly before Ramadan,
although his approval limit is N2.5 million.

A number of Prado SUVs are already attached to his office, but
he still went ahead to buy a new one, according to insiders.

Since Yusuf was appointed ES on July 29, 2016, he has been
accused of violating every procurement law in the books and dishing
out contracts to cronies.