The suspended Executive Secretary, National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Prof Usman Yusuf has dared the Governing Council of the scheme as he resumed official duty on Monday.
Prof Yusuf who was suspended indefinitely on Thursday by the council to pave way for investigation of allegations levelled against him was however driven into his office at Utako at about few minutes past 9.00 this morning amidst tight security.
Protesting staff for and against the resumption of the ES spread all over the office premises singing different solidarity songs after those that blocked the entrance to prevent the ES from gaining access to the premise were teargassed.
The Chairman of the Nigeria Civil Service Union (NCSU), Muhammad Gajo said, those protesting against the ES are those that are benefiting from the corruption going on in the scheme.
He said they form the union out of the yearning and aspiration of our staff because the other union has derailed from the function of check and balances which is their primary responsibility, staff and their welfare.
The chairman, Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN), Omomeji Abdulrasak said, Prof Yusuf was only suspended and not sacked adding that nobody is questioning the authority of the president to hire and fire but what they are saying is that he should stay aside and allow investigations to be carried out.
He said if they are questioning the power of the council to suspend him, are they also questioning the allegation of corruption against him? “But we maintain our stand that President Buhari is ill informed about the activities of this man. If we continue like this, people will continue to score this administration low.”
“Look at how he brought security men to force his way into office this morning, they bombarded us and teargassed us despite the suspension. We cannot continue like this. All these people in support of him are those benefiting from the largesse from him and he carries them everywhere he goes.”
Protesting staff for and against the resumption of the ES spread all over the office premises singing different solidarity songs after those that blocked the entrance to prevent the ES from gaining access to the premises were teargassed.