Unic Press UK: The suspended executive secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Prof. Yusuf Usman, on Monday forcefully assumed office duties with Police escort/protection.
A team of Police officers and Usman had arrived the Lagos office of the NHIS, using force to enter the premises. The workers’ of NHIS, who had tried to prevent a forced entry, were sprayed with tear gas by the Police, the Guardian Newspapers, Nigeria, reports.
It was on October 18 that the Governing Council of the NHIS announced the suspension of Yusuf Usman as the scheme’s executive secretary over allegation of ₦919 million fraud. Prior to the recent suspension, Usman was suspended on July 2017 by the Minister of Health Isaac Adewole, but was recalled by President Muhammadu Buhari on February 2018.
Usman argues that by virtue of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) Act, particulaly Section 4 and Section 8, his appointment/removal from office is the responsibility of the President of Nigeria Muhammadu Buhari.
