The National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) is currently in public glare over a monumental corruption in the tune of N860 million as the Senate on Tuesday set up a committee to investigate the allegation.
In a sponsored motion by Senator Kabiru Garba Marafa (APC) representing Zamfara Central Senatorial District, he noted that the Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme, Dr. Usman Yusuf has been involved in expenditures way beyond his limit.
He further expressed his concern that the NHIS, an agency of the Federal Ministry of Health was being operated as a private hospital without recourse to its mother Ministry as enshrined in extant laws that set up the agency.
Part of misconduct of the Executive Secretary of NHIS, he pointed, was his disrespect to his superiors in the Ministry who have attempted to correct official anomalies in the agency.
“Mr Senate President, Distinguished Colleagues, I am so concerned about the scandalous activities of the new Executive Secretary of NHIS, Dr. Usman Yusuf since his appointment.”
“You are also aware that the Senate Committee on Health has expressed concern over the rude behaviour, especially that he does exceed his limit in official capacity of spending N2.5million”, Marafa explained.
He said, the sum of N860 million allegedly embezzled, were in tranches of N292million, N118 million, N400 million, and N50 million respectively, adding that some of these expenditures were spurious.
Contributing, Senator Mao Ohabunwa, added that the Executive Secretary had been running a one man show, saying the Senate should wade in so as not to discourage committed staff of the agency.
Part of issues under Senate’s scrutiny were illegal appointment and biased elevation of a 32 year old staff who was barely 10 years in service to the position of General Manager detailed to do his bidding, a situation has has aroused anger among NHIS staff.
Meanwhile, Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, stressed that it was still an allegation, while he went ahead to set up Ad-hoc Committee to investigate and turn in report in two weeks time.
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