HURIWA blasts FG’s anti- graft war over reinstated NHIS boss

A non- governmental human rights organisation, the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has criticised the Federal Government for what it described as one sided anti- corruption characterised by political hypocrisy and nepotism.

The rights group condemned the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari for reinstating the suspended Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Prof Usman Yusuf, after overruling the decision of the ministerial panel that investigated allegations against the indicted Executive Secretary.

The group also slammed the federal government for the poor defence of its action through the Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, who was accused of allegedly mismanaged information on the amount for which the immediate past spokesman of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olisa Metuh, is being witchhunted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC).

HURIWA has also asked the Minister of Health, Professor Isaac Adewole, to resign his appointment or stay back and be disgraced for his courage to suspend a suspected distanced first cousin of President Muhammadu Buhari.

The group said, “We have it on good authority that the reinstated NHIS ES is a cousin of President Muhammadu Buhari which explained why he bluntly disrespected the minister when he was given the matching order. We were told that the powerful cabal within the Presidency were actually instrumental to his unmeritorious appointment to head the strategic institution with lots of slush funds such as the dysfunctional NHIS. These powerful persons in the Presidency who made sure that their man Friday is recalled will disgrace the health minister who almost marred their plots to control the huge funds available in the coffers of NHIS”.

The Daily Times recalls that Yusuf was suspended by Adewole in June 2017, following allegations of gross misconduct in addition to him been found guilty of alleged offences that ranged from nepotism to theft of public funds.
HURIWA also criticised Buhari for not considering Yusuf’s heavy indictment by a ministerial panel, before asking him to return to work.

HURIWA also said that, “It is only in a Banana Republic will such a lawless action be taken by the President who simply sent the letter of reinstatement to his Minister of Health, Prof Adewole which amounted to a show of shame. It is also a huge humiliation that Prof Adewole was caught napping but simply confirmed receipt of the reinstatement letter, by simply saying: “It is true that the president has reinstated him.”