Health Minister, Adewole Suspends Eight Top NHIS Officials

BEVERLY HILLS, July 17, (THEWILL) – Barely a fortnight after sanctioning the Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme, NHIS, Usman Yusuf, the Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, has suspended eight senior officials of the agency.

The suspended officials include:

1. Olufemi Akingbade – General Manger, Zonal Coordinator South- South Zone

2. John Okon – General Manger, Finance Account

3. Yusuf Fatika – General Manger, Human Resources and Administration

4. Shehu Adamu – Assistant General Manager, Audit

5. Vincent Mamdam – Assistant General Manager, Head Insurance

6. Safiyanu Attah – Senior Assistant Officer, Marketing

7. Owen Udo Udoma – Senior Manager, Contribution Management

8. Innocent Abbah – Senior Assistant Officer, Planning Research and Monitoring

According to a statement from the ministry on Monday, the Acting Executive Secretary of the scheme, Attahiru Ibrahim, was directed to ensure the immediate implementation of the suspension order.

The suspension of the officers was based on the “activities of the investigative panel of inquiry and the desire to have an uninterrupted and robust investigation of all petitions at the National Health Insurance Scheme, including security reports on maladministration and mismanagement by officials of the agency”.

The statement added that the suspension was to pave way for thorough investigation.

Adewole urged the investigative committee to remain focused, fair and transparent in the discharge of this national task despite the sensation this development has generated.

THEWILL recalls that 54-year-old Yusuf was suspended after his response to petitions written against him were “considered unsatisfactory”. He however rejected the suspension he got from the minister, saying only the President could take such measure.