The suspended Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme, NHIS, Usman Yusuf, has given five reasons why he will ignore his suspension from office as ordered by the Minister of Health, Isaac Adewole.

Mr. Yusuf, in his letter dated July 12, acknowledged receiving the suspension letter dated July 6, but gave five reasons why he would not comply with the suspension.

In his own letter addressed to the minister, using the NHIS letterhead, Mr. Yusuf said he received the letter directing him to proceed on three months suspension with immediate effect to pave way for uninterrupted investigation of petitions against him in accordance with Public Service Rules.

He, however, said he would not comply with the directives for the following five reasons:

“1. By virtue of the NHIS Act particularly section 4 and 8 thereof, my appointment and removal from office whether by way of suspension or otherwise is at the instance of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“2. Except removed from office by the president under circumstances specified in the NHIS Act, my appointment is for a period of five (5) years subject to further term of the same period at the discretion of the president.

“3. Although by virtue of section 47 of the NHIS Act, you are empowered to give directives of a general nature to the Governing Council of the Scheme and in the absence of the Council, you have Presidential mandate to exercise the powers and functions of the council, but since the powers and functions of the Council do not include discipline, suspension or removal of the Executive Secretary of the Scheme from office, the directive in your letter under reference cannot find comfort under the said section or presidential mandate; and

“4. The letter of suspension is not in accordance with Public Service Rules as no prima facie case has been established against me in respect of the petition referred to in the letter. The mere fact that there are pending petitions against a public officer which is yet to be substantiated does not constitute a ground for suspension under the Public Service Rules. otherwise, with over 18,000 petitions pending against public officer holders before the EFCC and ICPC as at the end of June 2017, the total number of public officers who would have been on suspension by now including Honourable Ministers is left to be imagined.

“5. As you are aware, the petition referred to in your letter are currently being investigated by the ICPC which is yet to submit its report. In view of the criminal nature of most of the allegations in the petitions, security/investigative agencies like ICPC are the appropriate agencies for investigation contemplated in your letter; not a Ministerial Committee. I have cooperated fully with the investigations so far and will continue to do so.”
The embattled health insurance chief asked that the minister allow “investigations of these petitions to follow due process.”

PREMIUM TIMES had broken the news of Mr. Yusuf’s suspension last week over corruption allegations.
The minister had directed Mr. Yusuf to hand over to the most senior officer in the in the parastatal, a directive Mr. Yusuf refused to comply with; although he has not been to his office since the suspension.
The Ministry of Health had earlier explained the minister’s suspension order, saying it was as a result of various allegations and petitions against Mr. Yusuf, and to allow for unhindered investigations.
Mr. Adewole also directed the setting up of an investigative committee to look in the various allegations in accordance with the Public Service Rules.



http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/236931-exclusive-five-reasons-i-will-ignore-health-ministers-suspension-order-nhis-executive-secretary.html

The minister want remove the man to cover his corruption

under the PDP the health ministry was a functioning sub URB of govt now its a mere joke more reason u should vote PDP
PDP is nnamdi KANU
nnmadi KANU is PDP we bailed him

The Executive secretary must be joking. The honourable minister is exercising the executive powers vested in the president and can suspend the ES. I hope this guy will be treated just the way the former DG of pencom who also refused to leave office after her removal was treated. There are some fight you don't engage in in public service, fighting the honorable minister supervising your agency is one of them.

Impunity

I think the minister needs to respect the law.He was a civil servant before his appointment as a minister and he supposed to know the rules of engagement as a public officer,which the NIHS boss is trying to remind him.We should not condone illegality in the name of fighting corruption.Disobedience to the rules itself is corruption

the Acting President should wield his hammer on the Executive Secretary of NHIS.

He is simply saying He was appointed by Buhari , so only Buhari can order His suspension

kiyosaki1:
I think the minister needs to respect the law.He was a civil servant before his appointment as a minister and he supposed to know the rules of engagement as a public officer,which the NIHS boss is trying to remind him.We should not condone illegality in the name of fighting corruption.Disobedience to the rules itself is corruption

Listen to yourself.


A minister's mandate is not dictated by the constitution.

According to the constitution, a minister's mandate emanates from whatever directive or task the president gives him. Disciplinary powers is one of such powers.

The minister can suspend you, but only the president, through the head of service can fire you.

The problem with some of these professors is that they think every other professor is their mate.

#WeShallSee