There was a confrontation between some policemen escorting Executive Secretary, National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Prof. Usman Yusuf, and some workers of the scheme on Monday morning as he forced himself into the premises despite last week’s suspension by the NHIS board.
The policemen said to be about 50 fired tear gas at workers trying to prevent Yusuf, who arrived at 8.30am, from gaining entrance into the premises.
“They tear-gassed our men and women. They almost shot when we tried to stop them. Now he is in his office with many police officers guarding him,” Omameji Abdulrazak, Chairman of the NHIS workers union was quoted as saying by Premium Times.
The NHIS board had last week suspended Yusuf over allegations of fraud, but Yusuf insisted only the president could suspend him.
Last week’s suspension followed a July 2017 suspension of the NHIS boss by the Minister of Health, Prof Isaac Adewole, whose ministry supervises the scheme.
He was however controversially reinstated by the presidency in February 2018.
However, Yusuf has alleged a gang-up against him by health ministry officials, members of the NHIS board and workers of the scheme.
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Mr Deji Adeyanju, the Convener of Concerned Nigerians, an NGO, also alleged a gang-up against Yusuf and commended President Muhammadu Buhari for standing with the NHIS boss.
Taking to Twitter, he said, “We had all condemned the reinstatement of the NHIS Boss who was accused of corruption.
“NHIS started functioning in 2005. It’s 13yrs old this year. NHIS covers 3million Nigerians. It’s about Health Care but because of corruption, the agency has not performed well. Politicians turned NHIS into an ATM.
“HMOs – Health Maintenance Organisations – all private companies owned by politicians are the real problem of NHIS. They are middle men between NHIS and the hospitals. They have so enthroned corruption to another level in the place.
“The HMOs receive money from NHIS on behalf of the people to pay hospitals so that Nigerians on the NHIS scheme can enjoy medical services but they refuse to pay the hospitals and corner the money. NHIS gives the HMOs 3 months in advance to pay hospitals but they were not paying.
“What they do with the NHIS money: A. They fix it in banks to accrue interest. B. They buy forex And do trading with it. C. They take loans using it as collateral. When banks know you are getting massive funds from NHIS, they give you 10 times the amount in your account.
“So instead of the HMOs to pay the hospitals as agreed on time, they are heavily indebted to all hospitals nationwide. Crippling healthcare services nationwide. They owe National hospital alone N400million. It’s a major cartel.
“There are 57 HMOs. They are the cartel at NHIS. They work hand in hand with every Minister of Health, Board Members, the Executive Secretary(EX) & politicians in government to run the place to the ground. Apparently this new EX refused to play ball & they declared war on him.”