NHIS Must Comply with Financial Regulations, AGF Insists

The Accountant-General of the Federation (AGF), Mr. Ahmed Idris, yesterday said the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) remains a public institution which must be subjected to rules of engagement as far as public institution is concerned.

He said the agency is also expected to key into all financial policies with no exemptions, adding that “if you want to operate outside the rules, you are to seek approval.”

Speaking when he received the management of NHIS led by the Executive Secretary (ES), Prof. Mohammed Nasir Sambo, who paid him an advocacy visit, Idris further urged NHIS to get enrolled into the Integrated Personnel Payroll Information System (IPPIS) as soon as possible as it remains the only platform to payroll federal government employees.

The AGF also said the NHIS issues with Aso Savings and Loan Limited would have been averted if the office of the AGF was carried along in the transactions.

He said:” Consequently, we need to populate your account department with Treasury officers, otherwise you will face the consequences of your action.”

In a statement issued by Deputy Director, Press and Public Relation, OAGF, Mr. Henshaw Ogubike, Idris, however, promised to assist NHIS to get back its money from the mortgage company, adding that the issues of merger will be looked into to confirm the truth, and that NHIS should be placed under IPPIS.

The AGF said the OAGF is the main driver of public finance initiatives for the government like the Treasury Single Account (TSA), Government Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS), a platform for making payment and preparing budget as well as IPPIS, a platform for paying salaries of federal government employees and other reform initiatives.

Sambo, however, said the agency is one of the most important versatile agencies providing support to the people in terms of health care.

According to him, the NHIS remains the organ given the responsibility to handle healthcare in the country.