President Muhammadu Buhari has intervened in the ongoing crisis in the National Health Insurance Scheme over the suspension of the Executive Secretary, Prof. Yusuf Usman, by the Governing Council.
The Executive Secretary, who had refused to go on the suspension and had forced his way into the office building a day after he was suspended, has been directed by President Buhari to proceed on administrative leave.
Usman, who had been enmeshed in series of controversy, including an earlier suspension by the Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, had been quoted many times as saying that only Buhari could suspend or sack him.
The headquarters of the Scheme had been marred by protests by the labour unions of the scheme, who insisted that the Executive Secretary must proceed on the suspension.
Earlier on Tuesday, the two labour unions on renewed their resolve to sustain their ongoing protest over the suspension of Usman.
The trade unions are the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria and Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria.
Abdulrazak Omomaji, the Chairman of ASCSN, made this known to the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja, while reacting to the statement by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha.
NAN recalls that Mustapha on October 29 at a retreat for boards and governing councils as well as chief executives of MDAs clarified that as appointees of the President, the boards and councils have no power to suspend any chief executive without recourse to due process.
However, Omomaji said the union was still awaiting government’s reaction to their demands over the allegations of maladministration by Usman.
He explained that the Act establishing the NHIS was unique in that it gives the Governing Council the powers to suspend the executive secretary.
He said: “I want to clarify that the Act, which establishes the NHIS, is different from the other government parastatals, which are guided by boards and directors.
“The Governing Council of the NHIS however acted within its jurisdiction.
“They are the chief security officer of the organisation and have the powers to discipline and suspend.
“Let it be clear that Council has not removed Prof. Usman Yusuf, but asked him to step aside for investigations, after which findings will be forwarded to the Minister of Health.
“Council is therefore in order, and we shall continue with the protest as we await government’s reaction.”
NAN recalls that the SGF had explained that “no governing board of a federal agency or parastatal has the power to remove the chief executive appointed by the President.
“The board may however articulate infractions, investigate wrong doing and make recommendations to government through the supervisory minister.”
Mustapha made the clarification at an induction programme for governing board members of federal parastatals, universities and medical centres at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja.
The declaration came amidst controversy over the suspension of Usman by the NHIS governing council.
On October 18, the Chairman of the NHIS board, Ifenne Enyanatu, announced the indefinite suspension of the executive secretary, eight months after a similar suspension by the Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, was annulled by the Presidency because due process was not followed.
Enyanatu said the governing council resolved to suspend Usman because it had received several petitions against the NHIS boss.
She said the board had the permission of the Minister of Health to suspend Yusuf pending investigation.
However, Yusuf ignored the order and resumed normal duty.
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