The suspended Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme, Prof. Usman Yusuf, on Friday defied the governing council of the NHIS when he resumed work, shunning the resolution of the council.
Mr. Yusuf resumed at the head office of the agency in Abuja around 10am to the shock of NHIS staff.
In a memo with reference number NHIS/ES/091/1/192, signed by Yusuf and addressed to the chairperson of the council, Dr Enyantu Ifenne, the Executive Secretary claimed that only President Muhammadu Buhari has the power to suspend him.
Quoting on sections 6, 7 and 8 of the NHIS Act, Yusuf said the council only has the powers to manage the scheme and other related activities.
He also said he has not even been informed of the petitions written against him.
“As you are aware, by virtue of Section 8 of the NHIS Act, my appointment, like yours, is at the instance of the President, while the council’s power of appointment is limited to directors and other employees of the scheme.
“It is, therefore, ultra vires or the council to suspend or purport to suspend me from office to the extent that the said suspension is the prerogative of Mr President,” the memo partly read
However, Dr. Ifenne, expressed shock over Yusuf’s decision to defy the council.
She said, “Let those who hide under the cover of the Presidency to protect corruption know that Nigerians are keenly watching. I am convinced that if President Buhari is fully briefed about a tenth of Yusuf’s atrocities, he will throw him out.”
Mr. Yusuf was suspended again on Thursday for insubordination, fraud, arbitrariness and other corrupt practices.
Dr. Ifenne had announced his suspension and appointed Sadiq Abubakar as the acting Executive Secretary.
Recall that Mr. Yusuf, who is under investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission as well as the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, was suspended by the minister in July last year, following a directive from the then Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, that he be probed.
He was later indicted for acts of nepotism and fraud to the tune of N900m by a panel set up by the minister, pursuant to Mr. Osinbajo’s order.
Yusuf was therefore suspended, but in a bizarre twist, he was ordered to be reinstated by President Buhari upon his return to the country.
Maybe, that wrong signal sent then by Mr. Buhari is what is giving him the impetus to defy his recent suspension.
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