Reinstated NHIS boss resumes work, workers pledge cooperation with EFCC

Prof. Usman Yusuf, the reinstated Executive Secretary of National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), resumed work on Thursday.
Mr Ayo Osinlu, the Head of Media and Public Relations of NHIS, confirmed the resumption in Abuja.
Osinlu said: “NHIS Executive Secretary, Prof. Usman Yusuf, resumed office today (Feb. 8) after his reinstatement by the Federal Government on Feb. 6.”
Yusuf was suspended in June 2017 by the Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, following allegations of gross misconduct.
Meanwhile, there was normalcy in the premises of the agency, while security agents were seen keeping vigil.
Meanwhile, NHIS workers , on Thursday, pledged to cooperate with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to unravel alleged financial misdeeds rocking the scheme.
The workers are acting under aegis of the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN), and Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN).
Mr Abdulrazak Omomaji, Chairman of ASCSN, made the promise during a protest by the union members in Abuja on the reinstatement of Prof. Yusuf Usman as the substantive Executive Secretary of NHIS.
Omomaji urged the EFCC to continue its investigation on the finances of the scheme for the benefit of enrolees and to strengthen healthcare delivery in the country.
He also said the union would not support the creation of any problem in the scheme.
“We are law abiding citizens, and we have never created problem in the history of NHIS.
“We obey the law, but the reinstatement of Usman by the President will create problem in the scheme and we will not allow it to happen.
“We are demanding for a total reversal of the reinstatement of Prof. Yusuf Usman,’’ he said.
According to him, the reversal would ensure that peace and tranquillity reign in NHIS.
On his part, the Chairman of MHWUN, Mr Olawuyi Kayode said the union would assist the EFCC with useful information that would aid its investigations.
“ When he came in, he said the entire system was corrupt, including all the staff; he then posted over 50 per cent of staff members out of the office headquarters and replaced them with NYSC corps members.
“He brought people on Grade Level 10 from other organisations and placed them on GL 15 and 16,’’ Kayode alleged.
He claimed that the scheme remitted over N145 billion to the Treasury Single Account (TSA) due to prudency, transparency and efficiency of the workers over the years.