The Federal Government on Wednesday ordered the Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme, Prof. Usman Yusuf, to proceed on administrative leave immediately.
Government has also set up a seven-man panel to investigate the allegations levelled against him by the scheme’s Governing Council, which led to his recent controversial suspension.
The government’s position was contained in a statement by the Permanent Secretary, General Services Office, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Olusegun Adekunle.
Adekunle said the decision to send Yusuf on administrative leave was based on the need to create a room for an unfettered investigation.
In his absence, Director of Administration in the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mr. Ben Omogo, has been deployed to oversee the affairs of the scheme.
The statement read, “With specific reference to recent developments at the National Health Insurance Scheme, Mr. President has, after due consideration, approved the establishment of an independent fact-finding panel to investigate the alleged infractions by the Executive Secretary and report back within two weeks.
“The membership of the panel include: Dr. Hassan Bukar -Chairman; Dr. Emmanuel Meribole –member (Director, HPRS, Ministry of Health); Mr. Adewale Owolo –member (Director, Audit, Auditor-General of the Federation); Mr. Shamsuddeen Bello –member (Deputy Director Expenditure, Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation); Mr. Ishaq Yahaya –member (Director, Certification and Compliance, Bureau of Public Procurement); Dr. Ekanem Udoh –member (Director of Science, Ministry of Science and Technology); and Mrs. Jummai Idakwo –Secretary (Director, Administration, OSGF).
“In order to create room for an unfettered investigation, Mr. President has approved that the Executive Secretary of the NHIS, Prof. Usman Yusuf should proceed on administrative leave immediately.
“In his absence, Mr.Ben Omogo, a Director of Administration in the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation has been deployed to oversee the affairs of the scheme.
“Government recognises the importance of the scheme as a strong mechanism for the delivery of public healthcare and wishes to re-assure all Nigerians of its determination to place high premium on public interest.”
Adekunle said the panel would be inaugurated by the SGF, Boss Mustapha, on Friday.
Meanwhile, Prof. Yusuf, has sued the Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, the Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN), and the NHIS over his suspension by the governing council of the board.
In the suit with the number, FHC/ABJ/CS/1220/2018 filed before the Federal High Court in Abuja, Yusuf asked the court to rule among others that the governing council of the NHIS had no powers under the provisions of the NHIS Act to suspend him from office.
Yusuf instituted the suit through his lawyer, Uchechukwu Obi (SAN), on Monday.
The NHIS boss asked the court to state that the council had no powers under sections 6 and 7 of the Act to discipline him or to investigate allegations made against him as they purported to do by their internal memorandum on October 19, 2018.
The suit asked the court to declare that “only the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and no other, upon the recommendation of the minister of health can discipline, investigate, suspend or remove him from office.”
The plaintiff prayed the court to set aside his purported suspension from the NHIS by the board of the agency was null and void.
He asked the court to determine if the minister could suspend him without the express approval of the President.
The NHIS boss had been under investigation for several allegations of fraud.
He was among others accused of perpetrating fraud to the tune of N919m and was suspended by the minister of health in July last year.
However, he was controversially reinstated by President Muhammadu Buhari in February 2019 but was again suspended by the governing council of the NHIS on October 19.
Yusuf has, however, been supported by the Presidency and has continued to resume at work sparking a series of protests by unionists.
