Buhari reinstates Suspended NHIS Boss Usman Yusuf

NHIS Executive Secretary, Professor Usman Yusuf

Usman Yusuf, Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), has been reinstated by President Muhammadu Buhari, Premium Times reports.

Yusuf had been ordered by the Minister of Health, Isaac Adewole, on July 7, 2017, to proceed on three months suspension to pave the way for an investigation following petitions written against him, one of which was the procurement of a ₦58 million SUV without due process.

The Senate had also earlier launched an investigation into Yusuf’s administration, accusing him of “corrupt expenditure of N292m” which he allegedly spent on health care training “without recourse to any appropriate approving authority.”

Yusuf had refused to comply with the suspension, saying under the Act setting up the scheme, the appointment and removal of the executive secretary is at the instance of the President.

The Health Minister, after a panel set up to investigate the allegations made against Yusuf had found him culpable, had in October 2017, suspended the NHIS boss indefinitely.

According to a source who spoke to Premium Times, Yusuf had been reinstated by President Buhari, and a letter of reinstatement was sent to Adewole on Tuesday.

Adewole also confirmed the receipt of the letter which asked that he work closely with Yusuf upon his resumption, saying, “It is true that the president has reinstated him.”