The Executive Secretary, National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Usman Yusuf was on Thursday afternoon suspended indefinitely by the Governing Council of the Scheme.
The Minister of Health, Prof Isaac Adewole had initially suspended him in July 2017 but he refused to leave office, arguing that he was appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari and that it is only the President that can suspend him.
Senior members of Buhari government had to put pressure on him to proceed on the suspension. However, without recourse to the Minister, President Buhari reinstated Yusuf back to office in February this year.
On Thursday afternoon, the chairperson of the NHIS governing council, Ifenne Enyanatu revealed the resolution of the council to journalists after a two-day closed door meeting at the Abuja head office of the scheme.
The chairperson said the council resolved to suspend Mr Yusuf because it has been inundated with petitions and infractions against the official. Mrs Enyanatu said the council also resolved to set up an administrative panel to examine allegations leveled against Mr. Yusuf.
“The panel has three months to complete it’s assignment and report back to us. We consulted and got the approval of the honorable Minister of Health before this suspension”,she said.
Mrs Enyanatu also announced that Mallam Sadiq Abubakar will now act as Executive Secretary in Mr Yusuf’s stead in the time being.
