President Muhammadu Buhari has reinstated the suspended Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme, NHIS, Usman Yusuf, pushing aside the recommendation of the minister of Health, Isaac Adewole, who had suspended the secretary following allegations of gross misconduct.
Yusuf is under probe for alleged N919m fraud.
According to reports, Yusuf was suspended by the Minister of Health in June 2017, and panel commissioned by the minister after Mr. Yusuf’s suspension later found him culpable of infractions that ranged from nepotism to theft of public funds.
The letter of reinstatement was reportedly sent to Adewole on Tuesday evening.
Mr Adewole confirmed receipt of the reinstatement letter, simply saying: “It is true that the president has reinstated him”.
The reinstatement letter urged Mr Yusuf to work closely with the minister upon resumption.
Mr Adewole had set up a committee to probe Mr Yusuf and in a correspondence, the minister stated that the investigative committee found him culpable in the discharge of his responsibilities.
“Please refer to my earlier letter ref C.405/1/132, dated 6th July 2017, suspending you from office for three months to allow for an interrupted administrative, investigative committee to look into the various allegations against you including that of monumental fraud, gross abuse of office and nepotism inimical to the NHIS scheme under your leadership,” the letter read.
“While awaiting Mr President’s directive and considering that the committee found you culpable in many areas of your performance as the executive secretary of the NHIS, I am further extending your suspension from office pending the decision of his Excellency Mr President C-in-C on the report.”
Multiple sources and accounts indicate that Mr. Buhari did not consider Mr. Yusuf’s indictment by a ministerial panel before asking him to return to work.
This development just a few months after the Presidency reinstated the former Presidential Pension Reform Task Team Chairman, Alhaji Abdulrasheed Maina, who was being wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for multiple allegations of embezzlement.
