Workers of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) on Monday blocked the entrance of the office in Abuja, the nation’s capital.
The workers were protesting over the resumption of the embattled Executive secretary Usman Yusuf, who was suspended.
THEWILL gathered that policemen escorted Yusuf to the office and fired teargas at workers.
Yusuf had kicked against his suspension by the NHIS governing board, saying he would resume work on Monday.
But the NHIS workers threatened to lock him out of office. As early as 7am on Monday, the workers locked the entrance gate, amid heavy security presence.
When Yusuf arrived at 8:30am, he gained entry into the premises with the aid of the policemen who overpowered the workers while some staff loyal to the executive secretary succeeded in breaking the keys to the gate.
At a press conference last week, Enantu Ifenna, chairman of the governing board, had accused the ES of allegedly inflating the scheme’s 2018 budget, “fraudulently inflating the cost of biometric capturing machines”, and “attempt to illegally execute N30 billion in federal government bonds”.
The board also alleged that Yusuf carried out unauthorised staff travel “in defiance to council directive”, “superfluous arrogation of project vehicles”.
Yusuf was first suspended by Isaac Adewole, minister of health, last year but was reinstated in February following the intervention of the house of representatives.
When he resumed, Yusuf vowed to fight back, accusing some hospitals and insurance companies of ganging up against him for opposing some sharp practices.
But the governing council levelled corruption allegations against him six months after he was reinstated.
Yusuf had argued that his suspension was illegal and that the governing board lacked power to suspend him.
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