NHIS boss defies council's suspension, storms office with armed policemen

The Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance scheme, Prof. Usman Yusuf, on Monday defied the suspension order by the governing council of the scheme to resume at his office in the schemes headquarters

The governing council had last week Thursday, alleged executive infractions on the part of the NHIS boss and suspended him indefinitely pending the conclusion of investigation.

He is being accused of insubordination, fraud, arbitrariness and other corrupt practices.

But on Monday, Prof.Yusuf, shielded by armed police personnel, stormed the NHIS premises and forced his way into the office.

He entered the office amid protests and chants of solidarity by the staff union of the health institution.

The union had earlier blocked the entrance into the premises, protesting the forceful resumption of the Executive Secretary, but were dispersed with tear gas by armed policemen guarding the executive secretary

Speaking on behalf of the union, Chairman, Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria, NHIS chapter, Abdulrasak Omomeji said, ‘‘No one is questioning the authority of the president to hire and fire’’ but maintained that President Buhari is ill informed about the activities of Prof. Yusuf who was only suspended and not sacked.

This is not the first time staff members of the NHIS will protest the continued appointment of its current number one man, they have in the past accused him of corruption and nepotism.

In a counter accusation against the protesting staff, a spokesperson for the Executive secretary, Chairman of the Nigeria Civil Service Union (NCSU), Muhammad Gajo said, ‘’those protesting against the ES are those benefiting from the corruption going on in the scheme’’.

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 The union has vowed to continue protesting what it says is disregard for Nigeria’s healthcare system and the rule of law.