By Ray Ekpu
The Professor Usman
Yusuf saga is obviously sapping the energy and the health of the National
Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) of which he is the Executive Secretary. It all
started last year when a group called United Youth Alliance Against Corruption
(UYAAC) sent a petition dated April 21, 2017 to the Minister of Health,
Professor Isaac Adewole. In that petition garnished with supporting documents,
the group accused Yusuf of fraud, abuse of office and nepotism. The supervising
Minister thought, as is the practice in government, that the accused person
should be suspended to create room for a fair investigation by the EFCC.
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| *Professor Usman Yusuf |
The recommendation for
his suspension received the nod of Professor Yemi Osinbajo who was then acting
as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. President Muhammadu Buhari
was at that time receiving medical attention in the United Kingdom. When Buhari
returned he overruled the Minister and the Acting President and recalled Professor
Yusuf from suspension apparently without the EFCC completing its investigation.
The presidency said at the time through the tongue of Mr. Garba Shehu, one of
Buhari’s spokesmen, that Yusuf was a victim of ethnic and political
conspiracies which was an unmistaken indictment of the Minister of Health,
Professor Adewole and the Acting President, Professor Osinbajo.
