NHIS: Documents Absolve ES from Transfer of N10bn

Contrary to reports that the authorisation for a controversial withdrawal of N10 billion from NHIS funds was granted by the Executive Secretary, ES of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Prof. Yusuf Usman, documents obtained by THISDAY show that he did not authorise the action.

The documents reveal further that Yusuf, before his suspension, and eventual reinstatement as ES, had made efforts to retrieve the first tranche of N5 billion transferred out of the agency’s account at the Central bank, on December 28, 2016, to the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF) in line with the Treasury Single Account Policy.

A second tranche was transferred out of the account with number 00201063661013 on January 11, 2018.

The scheme is however exempted from the TSA, since it is not considered a revenue generating agency.

Already, the House of Representatives has summoned the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, and the Accountant General of the Federation (AGF), over the transfer of the N10billion to the TSA, in disregard of the appropriation law of the NHIS.

A recent report in a newspaper, (not THISDAY) had claimed that the second withdrawal was ordered effected on the orders of some presidential aides, led by the Chief of Staff to the President, Mr. Abba Kyari, and that Usman was reinstated so as to cover up the withdrawals.

The documents however show that the transfers, in both instances were authorised by the AGF, into the TSA, as part of operating surplus.

Usman had been suspended by the Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole for financial recklessness and misconduct in July 2017, but was reinstated by President Muhammadu Buhari, in February 2018. Three separate letters obtained by THISDAY show that the ES had sought the return of the initial N5 billion.

Two of the letters dated February 14, 2017 with Reference number NHIS/ES/264/1/4, and July 4, 2017 with Reference number NHIS/ DCM/192/1/54 addressed to the AGF, had requested for the refund of the deducted money.

The letters also sought the refund of N11.56 billion erroneously transferred to the CRF by Guarantee Trust Bank, in September 2015, when the TSA was fully implemented.

In another letter dated April 18, 2017 with reference number NHIS/ES/163/1, to the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Adeosun, Usman sought audience with the minister to discuss the refunds and also discuss partial remittances of NHIS contributions by the AGF, in addition to transfer of operating surplus to the CRF.