QUESTIONABLE REINSTATEMENT

placing them on grade level 15 and above. This is one intervention too many and as such Mr. President should allow Yusuf to retire from service to have time to run his personal business.”

On its part, the Health and Managed Care Association of Nigeria (HMCAN) has threatened to sue the federal government over the recall of Yusuf. Speaking at a press conference in Lagos, the Chairman of the Association, Dr. Tunde Ladele, said since Yusuf was already under investigation, President Buhari should have waited till the case was over before either reinstating him or upholding the suspension. He said for someone who was accused of embezzling several millions of naira, and involved in nepotism, there was no basis for his recall except cleared after investigations.

“It was reported that the panel set up by the Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole had found that the sum of N919m had been dubiously given to consultants for staff training and recommended that the EFCC probe the agency for diversion of funds and contravention of the Procurement Act.

We therefore advised that in the spirit of transparency, accountability and the stance of government on anti corruption, the report and investigation should not be swept under the carpet. Doing this will erode public confidence and cast a doubt on the sincerity of government,” he added.

“Yusuf has little idea on how NHIS should best be run. The Acting Executive Secretary who replaced him after suspension was already making progress in growing the scheme before the latest announcement. So we condemn the recall, and urged the federal government to do the needful,” he added.

He explained that for the one year Yusuf held sway as the head of the scheme, not a single person was added to the number of those already under the scheme.