Workers’ protest reinstatement of NHIS boss

*** Says his reinstatement is a mockery Buhari’s anti-corruption war
***Demands for his immediate removal

Scores of worker’s union of the National Health Insurance Scheme, NHIS on Thursday staged a peaceful protest against the reinstatement of the suspended Executive Secretary of the scheme by president Muhammadu Buhari.
The workers staged the protest at the NHIS office in Utako, Abuja, to demand the reversal of Yusuf’s reinstatement as he is reportedly under probe by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for corruption allegations involving N919 million.

According to the workers, reinstating Yusuf at this time by the government claimed to be fighting corruption is contrary to fairness and equity.

“The man has a case in court. We are calling on president Muhammadu Buhari to revisit allegations against Mr. Yusuf and investigate this matter before reinstating him.

“EFCC is investigating him and president Buhari should allow the investigation before recalling him,” the chairman association of senior civil servant NHIS chapter, Razaq Omomeji, said.

The workers called on President Muhammadu Buhari to reverse the reinstatement.

It could be recalled that President Buhari had on Tuesday reinstated Yusuf exactly six months after he was suspended by the minister of health, Isaac Adewole, following allegations of gross misconduct.

A panel commissioned by the minister after Yusuf’s suspension later found him culpable of infractions that ranged from nepotism to theft of public funds.

Meanwhile Yusuf has already resumed work at his office in Abuja on Thursday.
Reports had it that he (Yusuf) had a meeting with some key officials of the agency.

“I have resumed. You know, the reinstatement is with immediate effect. I will be in the office tomorrow (Thursday),” he was quoted as saying.

The minister of Health, Professor Isaac Adewole had on July 6, suspended Yusuf over allegations of fraud levelled against him.

He was alleged to have violated procurement laws by dishing out contracts to cronies since his appointment on July 29, 2016.

According to reports, the final straw that led to his suspension was the alleged purchase of a Prado SUV by Yusuf for N58 million shortly before Ramadan, though his approval limit was N2.5 million.
His suspension at the time had resulted in intrigues after the NHIS boss told the minister he has no powers to
suspend him.

The house of representatives had also called for his reinstatement, pending the outcome of the probe into the allegations against him.