National Conscience Party (NCP) has called on the Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo to order the immediate arrest of suspended Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Prof. Usman Yusuf.
The party charged Osinbajo to wage war against any cabal backing the suspended NHIS boss.
A statement on Sunday signed by NCP Deputy National Chairman, Waheed Lawal, said Yusuf must be arrested for daring the Minister by refusing to go on suspension.
Yusuf was ordered by the Minister of Health Prof. Isaac Adewole to proceed on three months suspension to pave way for an investigation following petitions written against him.
But Yusuf stated that under the Act setting up the scheme, the appointment and removal of the executive secretary was at the instance of the President.
“Except removed from office by the President under the circumstances specified in the NHIS Act, my appointment is for a period of five years”, he said.
But NCP insisted that it was wrong for the suspended NHIS boss to challenge a constituted authority and to still parade himself as the Executive Secretary of the insurance body.
He said: “My strong belief in the Nigeria’s democratic process enables me to speak against tyranny, wanton disregard for established authority and unrepentant rigidity for corrupt tendencies.
“This is especially as the voice of the poor citizens of our country as regards the manipulative tactics at the NHIS office has been persistent”.
NCP noted that position of the House of Representatives backing the NHIS boss was wrong.
“The suspension of the NHIS executive secretary is following a precedence which remains one of the best approaches to fight the scourge of corruption.
“We, and even the green chamber all applauded the suspension of the secretary to the government of the federation, Babachir David Lawal.
“As such, why are the lawmakers pushing for the recall of Yusuf who should by now be answering questions from the constituted investigative panel on over 72 petitions received so far, bothering on financial impropriety, gross misconduct and flagrant disregard for the civil service rules and the procurement act,” he queried.
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