BEVERLY HILLS, July 12, (THEWILL) – The House of Representatives on Wednesday berated the Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, over his decision to suspend the Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme, Prof. Yusuf Usman.
Adewole was also accused of contempt of the Legislative Houses Powers and Privileges Act and trying to frustrate ongoing investigation into the allegations bothering on fraudulent activities of Health Management Organisations (HMOs).
Adewole had announced the suspension of Usman on July 8 over petitions alleging corrupt acts by Usman including an allegation that he procured a Sports Utility Vehicle for N58million without due process.
His suspension came while the House Committee on Health Services was investigating the alleged rot in the implementation of the NHIS while Usman had appeared before the Committee, Chaired by an All Progressives Congress lawmaker from Imo State, Chike Okafor, to blame the failure of the NHIS to deliver services on the HMOs.
Speaking at plenary on Wednesday, Okafor moved a motion on the floor on Wednesday drawing the attention of the House to the latest twist saying it appears that Usman was being punished for exposing corruption in the NHIS during his speech at the committee hearing.
He alleged that the refusal of Usman to accommodate several demands like the payment of N197.073 million and $37,383 for trip to a World Health Organization (WHO) conference, and his unearthing of fraudulent activities of the HMOs led to his suspension.
Members of the House were of the opinion that the Minister, who was a President appointee, has no power to suspend another appointee of the President.
The House, in its resolution, directed the Minister to reinstate Usman within seven days and to also halt the re-accreditation of HMOs pending the outcome of the intervention by the House.
The House resolution stated, “Invite the Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, to show cause why he should not be cited for contempt of the House as the suspension of the Executive Secretary of NHIS, Prof. Usman Yusuf, appears to be intended to intimidate him, punish him for testifying before the House and silence him from further testifying before the House of Representatives, in its constitutional duties of investigation of issues of corruption, inefficiency and waste in governance.
“Request the Minister and the acting Executive Secretary to stop henceforth every process of HMOs re-accreditation, pending the outcome of the ongoing investigation mandated by the House.
“Request the Minister to recall ES of NHIS, Prof. Usman Yusuf, from suspension forthwith and allow him to continue with his sanitisation programme in the agency.”
