Senate probes alleged N860m fraud in NHIS

The Senate, on Tuesday, set up ad hoc committee to investigate about N860 million allegedly spent by the executive secretary, National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Professor Yusuf Usman, without recourse to relevant approving authorities and other activities being allegedly carried out by the NHIS boss.

This followed a motion entitled: “Averting the looming crisis and monumental corruption in NHIS: A time for

action” by Senator Kabir Garba Marafa (APC Zamfara central).

The lawmaker frowned on “the scandalous activities of the new executive secretary of the NHIS since his appointment.”

Usman was appointed into office in July 2016, by President Muhammadu Buhari, taking over from Mr Olufemi Akingbade, who acted for almost two years after the former secretary, Dr Femi Thomas, was removed a day to the exit of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, who presided at the plenary, listed members of the ad hoc committee as Senators Ahmed Ibrahim Lawan (APC Yobe North-chairman); Lanre Tejuoso (APC Ogun Central); Bassey Akpan (PDP Akwa Ibom North-East); Issa Hamma Misau (APC Bauchi Central); Kabir Marafa (APC Zamfara Central); Mao Ohunabunwa (PDP Abia North) and Ahmed Ogembe (PDP Kogi Central).

Senator Marafa, on the motion, recalled that the Senate Committee on Health had, at a point expressed concern over the rude behaviour of the secretary, especially to his superiors in the ministry over official matters.

He pointed out that the secretary had a spending limit of only N2.5 million, while any spending above his threshold must either be referred to the board or his supervising ministry.

The lawmaker expressed concern over the expenditure of N292 million singlehandedly incurred by the secretary for Health Care Financing Training and the N118 million allegedly spent on  training of staff without reference to any appropriate approving authority.

According to him, “another scandalous expenditure of N400 million spent purportedly for training in the month of October 2016,” adding that “despite presidential orders banning promotional items and souvenirs, the secretary still went ahead to expend N50 million for such promotional items, such as T-shirts and fez caps.”

He further alleged that Usman recently carried out some illegal appointments into the agency without recourse to due process as well as the lopsided nature of the said appointments, including the fraudulent change in the designation and nomenclature of General Manager to ‘Head’, so as to circumvent the provision of extant laws establishing the NHIS.

He specifically mentioned the unilateral recruitment of 15 staff, either on full employment or secondment without adherence to extant civil service rules and the recent appointment or elevation of a 32-year-old to the position of Assistant General Manager, equivalent to an Assistant Director in the ministry, who, in fact, had less than 10 years in service.

According to him, “this appointment and the behaviour of the secretary have dampened the morale of the staff of the agency, especially those that have over 15 years in service.”

While informing that the NHIS was established for the noble objectives of promoting the health status of Nigerians as a co-factor in national poverty eradications efforts, he affirmed that “if the corrupt and scandalous activities of the secretary, if left unchecked, could affect the smooth running of the agency.”

Senator Mao Ohunabunwa, in his contribution, berated the NHIS secretary for behaving like a sole administrator in the agency without recourse to any appropriate authority, warning that such attitude, if not checked, might have consequences on the country’s health insurance and poverty eradication.