The Northern Coalition Against Corruption (NOCACO) has commended the Health Minister Prof. Isaac Adewole for taking swift and decisive actions aimed at curbing the impunity and endemic corruption culture in the National Health Insurance Scheme NHIS
The Group stated this in a press statement jointly signed by AbdulsamadAhmadi and Hassana Labaran president and Secretary of the Coalition.
The group further said it has resolved to support and encourage all political office holders and government appointees that are willing to exemplify the anti-corruption tendency of President Muhammadu Buhari.
According to the statement, when the NHIS was conceived, the poor masses of the country embraced the idea with open arms believing that it will make healthcare services affordable and accessible to the poor and less privileged.
“Nigerian workers played their part, they enrolled and contributed in an effort to make the programme a success. However, unfortunately the leadership of the Nigerian Health Insurance Scheme NHIS has continuously denied Nigerians the dividends of this noble scheme.
“The reign of the past executive secretary Prof. Usman Yusuf in particular has been fraught with allegations of fraud, high handedness and monumental corruption.
“Prof. Usman Yusuf who was appointed to head the NHIS barely one year ago has proved to be a colossal failure. He has failed to tow the anti-corruption path of this administration.
” Consequently, it has become imperative for him to step aside to allow for unhindered investigations into corruption allegations leveled against him.
“And to those questioning the powers of the Minister to sustain the head of a parastatal under his ministry, please be informed that a minister is the representative of Mr. President in any ministry.
“Therefore the minister enjoys the power to take decisive actions including hiring and firing in order to maximize service delivery in the ministry.
“In view of this, we call on all Nigerians to lend their supports to our able Health Minister Prof. Isaac Adewole in his resolve to bring sanity in the health ministry and other parastatals under it
“. We also encourage all other ministers to emulate the health minister by flushing out all bad eggs in their respective ministries.
“This is the only way to exhibit the zero tolerance for corruption in this administration. ‘The statement reads
