The Federal Government has warned the fact finding panel probing the leadership crisis in National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) against being bias in the discharge of their duties.
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr. Boss Gida Mustapha, gave the warning while inaugurating the panel on Friday in Abuja in his office.
He said that the NHIS had been involved in various crises that had led to the suspension of its Executive Secretary, Prof. Usman Yusuf.
“Unfortunately, in recent times, the NHIS has been embroiled in one crisis or the other. Lately, these imbroglios have degenerated to the purported suspension of the Executive Secretary of the scheme by its Governing Council, and calls from different quarters for the scrapping of the Health Management Organizations (HMO).
“I want to remind members of this honourable panel on the need to be non-partisan and dispassionate in the discharge of their assignment. I equally urge you to see this onerous assignment as a national call to duty and therefore embrace it with all commitment and seriousness it deserves,” Mustapha said.
Also, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HoCSF), Mrs Winifred Oyo-Iya, assured the panel of her support and guidance in carrying out their assignment.
Oyo-Ita represented by the Director IPPIS, OHCSF, Mrs Anne Attah, said that all civil servants were enrolled on the NHIS and its success was important for the progress of the civil service.
She expressed confidence in the chairman of the panel, Dr Hassan Bukar, stating that as a former Permanent Secretary he knows the rules and regulations of the civil service.
On his part, the Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, who thanked the SGF for his prompt intervention in the NHIS issue, promised to help the panel in speeding up their assignment to enable them deliver on time adding that the problem of NHIS was deeply rooted.
“I promise to help speed up the process of the panel and once the report is turned in, it will be implemented immediately,” Adewole said.
The chairman of the panel, Dr. Hassan Bukar, said that it was a rare privilege to be bestowed such confidence and responsibility by the government.
While acknowledging that the task was an onerous one, he said the panel would complete its assignment on time and that the panel would work assiduously to restore NHIS to its glory.
One of the terms of reference (ToR) of the panel are to investigate the alleged infractions listed by the NHIS Governing Council in its letter dated Oct. 18, 2018 against Prof. Yusuf and determine the extent of his culpability or otherwise regarding the allegations.
The panel is also to make appropriate recommendations based on their findings.
Other members of the panel are Dr. Emmanuel Meribole, Director, HPRS, FMH; Mr. Adewale Owolo, Director, Audit, (AuGF); Mr. Shamsuddeen Bello, Deputy Director Expenditure (OAGF), Mr. Ishaq Yahaya, Director, Certification and Compliance, BPP; Dr. Ekanem John Udoh, Director of Science (FMS&T); and the secretary Mrs. Jummai Idakwo, Director, Administration (OSGF).
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