Th e hoopla generated by the suspension of Prof. Usman Yusuf, executive secretary, National Health Insurance Scheme, is quite unnecessary except in this clime where public offi ce is seen as a patrimony to be coveted at all cost. Despite the allegations of fi nancial misdemeanors, impunity and nepotism levelled against him, the NHIS boss is deemed innocent until proven guilty. Nobody has found him guilty of any off ence. Th e minister of health has only acted in consonance with administrative procedures merely relying on the authority and advice of the Head of Service of the Federation. He was only asked to cool his heels at home for three months “to pave way for uninterrupted investigation of petitions against him in accordance with Public Service Rules.”
Yusuf is said to have been issued a few administrative queries by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Hajia Binta Bello, who hails from Katsina State as Yusuf. Each time he got a query, he promptly thrashed it. Reason: only the person who appointed him can query him. Th at person is President Muhammadu Buhari! But his cup has become quite full. Th e United Youths Alliance Against Corruption, led by Solomon Agbo, had petitioned Acting President Yemi Osinbajo and copied the Head of Service. Both offi ces had directed the Minister of Health to examine the allegations. Th e deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Ade Ipaye, in a letter dated July 10, 2017, actually forwarded two petitions, one by Agbo and the other by Dr. Tunde Ladele, to the minister. Earlier, in a letter dated June 9, 2017, the HoS had called the attention of the minister to a petition on “monumental fraud, gross abuse of offi ce and nepotism inimical to the set objectives of the NHIS under the leadership of Prof. Yusuf.”
Th e minister was requested to undertake “proper investigation and necessary action.” After disregarding mere administrative queries, the bubble seems to have burst for Yusuf with the directives to the minister who had tried to gently whip the ‘big man’ to line. Now his sins have come to hunt him, so it seems. But he remains innocent until found guilty of the allegations in the petitions. Our recuperating but no nonsense President Muhammadu Buhari will enjoy a good laugh at the impudence of Yusuf, who has elected to challenge the authority of the minister to suspend him from offi ce. Th e professor of pediatrics must be suff ering from ignorance of public service rules and the basic knowledge of the law of contract. All public offi cers, especially those who live in free accommodation and ride expensive offi cial cars like Yusuf, must know that they are subject to the laws governing public offi ce. Th ere are general orders and rules of procedure every appointee must abide with. It is trite law of contract that he who hires can fi re or discipline.
It is preposterous for Yusuf to fl aunt the name of President Buhari. He needs to wake up to reality and understand that the Presidency must function without Buhari in seat! Th e attempt to personalize his appointment is wrong. He should simply answer the queries issued to him by the supervising ministry. It is distressing to read some misguided opinions in the newspapers, ascribing the plight of Yusuf to witch-hunt.
Th e House of Representatives has intervened in a matter which is strictly within the jurisdiction of the executive arm of government. To give the embattled professor some advice. Th e panel raised by the minister provides him a rare opportunity to state his case and disabuse all misgivings about his leadership. For someone who claims to enjoy the confi dence of President Buhari, it is wrong to cause disaff ection between two arms of government by running to the National Assembly for ‘protection’. It is time Nigerians abided by rules and procedures in running the aff airs of government; indeed in running our daily aff airs. Th at is how to build a strong nation. Tajudeen Kareem, Abuja
