Some 30 civil rights organisations under the aegis of
Coalition of Civil Society Groups on Monday, drummed support for the Health
Minister, Prof. Isaac Adewole over the suspension of the Executive Secretary of
National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Prof. Yusuf Usman, reports ITRealms.
The also condemned the Northern Youth groups and some
members of House of Representatives positions on the issue, lamenting that they
are objective on national issues.
They described the action of the embattled boss of the NHIS
as insubordination, and advised him to "tender an apology to the Minister
of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole and Nigerians for the gross misconduct."
The action of the lawmakers, it said, amounted to "an
ugly and unprecedented approach", advising them to endeavour to uphold
their position on issues relating to allegations of corruption as witnessed in
the suspended Secretary to the Government of the Federation, David Babachir
Lawal.
The investigative committee set up by the Minister of
Health, the coalition said, should start their assignment immediately and make
their findings open to the public and adhere to due process.
The COCSGs made its position known in a communique issued at
the end of its emergency meeting held in Abuja where it passed a vote of
confidence on Adewole.
The resolution was signed by the President of COCSGs; Bassey
Etuk Williams; Secretary, Abubakar Ibrahim; Chairman (Communique Drafting
Committee), Mallam Musa Usman and Secretary, Obiora Nwosu.
Others are its Coordinators in South-West, Olayinka Tunde;
South-East, Ogechi Akoma; North-Central, Alhaji Sidi Ali; South-South, Nelson
Osaise; North-West, Alhaji Shehu Dambata and North-East, Hajiya Binta Yakubu.
The group however observed that condemning the purchase of
vehicle on loan for official use was improper as the engagement of vehicles for
official use cannot be considered as a violation of civil service regulation on
the relationship between ministries and parastatals.
The communique reads: "The 48 hours ultimatum given to
the Minister of Health to reverse the suspension of the Executive Secretary of
NHIS, Prof. Yusuf Usman, or be sued by the Northern Youths Development
Association and the biased call for his immediate reinstatement by the House of
Representative formed the crux of our deliberation.
"We condemn in strong terms the use of ethnic platforms
to intervene on a national issue especially when it bothers down on corrupt
practices. We observed that the trend could escalate into ethnic rivalry and
tension. However, we support any objective interrogation on good governance and
accountability and hence the issues emanating from the Ministry of Health and
NHIS deserve public scrutiny.
"We hereby pass a vote of confidence on the Hon.
Minister of Health. The Executive Secretary of NHIS should respect the
suspension order placed on him to allow for proper investigation of the said
allegations. His refusal to obey the suspension order is an act of insubordination
and should not be encouraged as his refusal could create unwarranted tension in
system. Yusuf Usman should show remorse and therefore apologise to 180 million
Nigerians and the Minister of Health for such gross misconduct. We condemn the
lawmakers biased conclusion and allegation that the suspension of the executive
secretary of NHIS was due to his refusal to accede to series of demands for
money by the Minister of Health."
The group frowned at the outcry over the manner in which the
committee set up to investigate the NHIS was constituted, while it also
condemned the assertion that the members of the committee were corrupt.
The COCSGs described as unfortunate the fact that request of
about N5 million for sponsorship of officials to the 70th World Health Assembly
meeting in Geneva, Switzerland in May, 2017 was neither approved nor released
by Yusuf.
The group said, "While we as a group are for an
egalitarian society and due process and at the same time ensure that the fight
against corruption must be won, we however condemn in strong terms the flagrant
abuse of privilege through arrogance and disrespect to constituted authority as
all are equal before the law and we must ensure we build a strong institution
and not personality. It is sacrosanct for all Nigerians to note that a service
to a nation of over 180 million citizens is an honour.
"We condemn the observed frosty relationship between
the Executive Secretary of NHIS and the Minister of Health as the bitter
gesture will certainly retard the achievement of the intended progress desired
by both of them and the Government of Muhamadu Buhari.
"We believe that the investigation will avail Prof.
Usman Yusuf the opportunity to defend his reputation and clear himself of the
allegations. We observed that the budget of the NHIS is captured under the
annual budget of the Ministry of Health therefore, it is expected that the
minister supervises and interrogates the implementation of the budget.
"We demand that the Minister engage all legal means to
prosecute all persons involved in the alleged monumental corruption discovered
during the reign of the former NHIS boss. We therefore implore the minister to
avail the civil society of his achievements within the two years in office.
"We urge all to support the ongoing reform process in
the polity especially those that has to do with fight against corruption and
ensure that due diligence is carried out by the committee set up to investigate
the allegations against NHIS Executive Secretary and make the investigation
Public for record purpose, and also urge the Executive Secretary to obey the
instruction concerning his suspension to allow for thorough investigation into
the matter. We support President Muhammdu Buhari anti-corruption war but
condemn the use of ethnic platform to engage in the fight."
No comments:
Post a Comment