Ani made the appeal while de-briefing the 2023 Batch ‘B’ (Stream II) corps members at the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp in Ikare-Akoko.

She reiterated that the NYSC management placed much premium on the lives of corps members hence the presidential directive which ordered that corps members be enrolled into the NHIS scheme and that took effect since February, 2022.

“NYSC is a responsible organisation which values the security and welfare of corps members with utmost and prior importance. What I am saying in essence is that in case you have health or medical challenges, visit NHIS accredited facility in your local government of service for free medical attention,” she said.

The state coordinator admonished them not to influence their rejection as the programme they were registered, mobilised and deployed for was national service and not personal service.

The administrator preached peace and love to the corps members and admonished them to replicate same in their places of primary assignment.

Her words: “My dear children, the greatest law of nature is love and with love you will conquer all the obstacles and overcome challenges. Show love to people you will meet at your places of primary assignment and be humble so that your service to the nation will have meaning to them and bear good fruits. Remember that they are your immediate next of kin and do well to be ambassadors of the Scheme which everyone will be proud of.

“The NYSC has put in place error-proof processes to help you navigate successfully the service year and it will serve your best interest if you see your Local Government Inspectors as fathers and mother, uncles and aunts, brothers and sisters who have been placed in all Local Governments to tend to your needs while in service and I want to enjoin you to approach them and discuss your challenges with them in a respectful manner.”

She challenged them to put all what they had learnt during the orientation course to good use while at the same time urging them not to disrespect the constituted authority wherever they find themselves.

The event witnessed the presentation of cash donation to the State Coordinator by corps member Mohammed Awal Abdulganiyu, code number OD/23B/2386 on behalf of Orientation Broadcasting Service (OBS) Crew to support the one storey OBS Studio building project which is at painting stage.

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The spokesman for the commission,  Mr Wilson Uwujaren, made the disclosure in a statement on Saturday.

He alleged that the sum was part of money which some deposit money banks fraudulently withheld since 2015 and refused to remit into the Treasury Single Account for NHIS.

According to him, the recovered sum was released to NHIS on February 8.

He noted that the commission, had on February 10, 2022, released to the NHIS, N1.5 billion recovered from the banks.

The commission had also on August 5, 2022, released N1.4 billion to the scheme.

The Executive Secretary of NHIS, Prof. Muhammad Nasir Sambo, had on July 29, 2021, praised EFCC for assisting NHIS in the recovery of funds trapped in commercial banks.

Source: NAN

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The exercise which is going to be in three batches is scheduled as follows:

1. Monday 15th – Thursday 18th of March will cover South East states of Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo States- as well as South-South States of Akwa-Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross-river, Delta, Edo and Rivers.
2. Monday 22ndMarch 2021-Thursday 25th March 2021 will cover North Central States of Benue, FCT, Kogi, Kwara, Nassarawa, Niger and Platue as well as Southwest States of Ekiti, Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Osun and Oyo.
3. Monday 12th April 2021-Thursday, 15thApril, 2021, will cover North East State, Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba and Yobe, and North East States- Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto, and Zamfara.

The exercise was said to be aimed at ensuring that no retired police officer including his/her spouse regardless of rank on retirement was left out from having full access to NHIS services and benefits anywhere in the country.

To that end, the Commissioner of police, Ogun State Police Command, CP Edward Awolowo Ajogun, enjoined all retired officers residing in Ogun State to report at the nearest police area command office with their letter of retirement and retiree’s identity card from 22ndto 25th of March 2021 for capturing.

He noted that the exercise would afford those that were unable to register during the first phase the opportunity to do so without much ado.

The CP therefore, appealed to all retired officers within the state to seize the opportunity of the second phase.

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Sambo disclosed this at a two-day retreat for the top management committee of NHIS in Kaduna on Tuesday.

He said the scheme had a presidential mandate to achieve Universal Health Coverage through the three-point agenda towards the realisation of its core mandate.

“I’m a public health physician and I work with evidence. I am trying to take a comprehensive stock of what has been happening in NHIS.

“The first step in our rebranding agenda is that we will embark on an aggressive and purposeful strategy that will reorient the organisation.

“This will however develop into a very good value system which will bring stability in the health insurance system.

“I am going to be systematic and purposeful, and the way to do it is to generate and gather evidence, by taking stock of all stakeholders,’’ he said.

Sambo said the management would be embarking on a purposeful stakeholder’s engagement with the Health Management Organisations, HMOs, and Health Care Providers to have a very transparent discussion in line with the accountability agenda of the current administration.

He added that problems would be collectively identified and solutions proffered by all stakeholders.

Sambo said that part of the reform agenda was also to catalogue how many Ministries, Departments and Agencies are under the Federal Government.

He added that the exercise would determine the total number of federal government employees who had subscribed to the scheme and those yet to be enrolled.

He noted that the scheme was meant to be compulsory for all federal government employees, assuring that the scheme would design a strategy to ensure all the workers enrol in line with the presidential mandate.

According to Sambo, the three-point agenda included “firstly, restoring value system that would transform NHIS into a credible and result-driven organisation.

“Secondly, engendering transparency and accountability in the entire operation of the scheme, and

“Thirdly, accelerating the drive of the scheme towards achieving a universal access to quality healthcare for all Nigerians.”

Prof. Gbenga Sunmola with the University of Ibadan, the facilitator of the retreat, said it was very timely, important and significant.

Sunmola said without health there could not be good quality of life, and without health there could not be peace and security in the country.

He said it was important to reposition relevant organisations that were responsible in bringing good health to the nation, by restructuring their thinking and behaviour for the benefit of the masses.

“We want to strengthen NHIS to better position itself for universal coverage, because there are many demands from the government, enrolees and the public.

“It needs to strengthen its internal mechanism and respond appropriately with a new value orientation that would accelerate work practices in a way that is compatible to efficient service delivery,” said the don.

Prof. Abdullahi Musa with the Kaduna State University, another facilitator, said the objective of the retreat was to rebrand public organisations.

He explained that rebranding was a means of developing strategies to do something differently.

“One effective strategy that is being adopted globally to ensure organisations achieve efficiency and effectiveness in their work practices is to ensure that they have a balance value system in an organisation.

“Once there is balance it will drive behaviour for efficiency that will lead to excellence, improvement in productivity and the core mandate of the organisation will be achieved,” Musa said.

Source: NAN

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The sack followed the recommendation of an independent fact-finding panel on the NHIS which said Yusuf should be dismissed from service.

The sack which came about seven months after the recommendation was announced on Monday by the Director, Media, Federal Ministry of Health, Mrs. Boade Akinola, in a statement she issued.

She also announced that Prof. Mohammed Sambo, had been appointed as the new head of the NHIS.

It would be recalled that a panel set up by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation had last December recommended Yusuf for dismissal over alleged fraud.

In a similar vein, a panel set up by the Federal Ministry of Health had in 2017 recommended that he should be dismissed.

The panel probed him over alleged mismanagement of N919 million.

The statement issued by Akinola reads in part:  “Following the recommendations of report by an independent fact-finding panel on the NHIS, President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the termination of appointment of the Executive Secretary, Prof. Usman Yusuf, who has been on administrative leave and has approved the appointment of Prof. Mohammed Sambo as the new executive secretary

“Similarly, the President also approved the dissolution of the governing board of the NHIS and directed the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Health to exercise full powers of the council pending the constitution of a new board.

“President Buhari has also approved the appointment of Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu as the Director–General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control. The appointment is in line with the provisions of Section 11(1)(3) of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control(Establishment) Act, 2018.”

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Osinbajo announced this on Saturday in Bauchi while inaugurating the Bauchi State Health Contributory Scheme, Bauchi State Trust Fund and agencies’ office.

“We will expand the NHIS during our next level to ensure that the scheme covers all Nigerians.

“The modern way of easy access to health facilities is either through contributory scheme or Trust Fund, which Bauchi State has introduced both the Contributory Scheme and went ahead and equally introduced a Trust Fund.

“Bauchi State has also diligently queued into all federal government social investment programmes,” Osinbajo said.

He said that all state governments should have their own health insurance scheme to complement federal government’s efforts at delivering qualitative, accessible and sustainable healthcare services.

Osinbajo noted that the Bauchi State had the highest beneficiaries of social investment programmes introduced by the federal government.

“The 14,075 youths in the state had benefited under N-Power programme while 618,214 students are being fed daily under the school feeding programme.

“No fewer than 9,799 farmers have accessed funds under the micro credit and 29,000 traders have been assisted under the trader-moni while 23,000 vulnerable ones have been assisted under the conditional cash transfer scheme.

“These are all under what the president’s ways of taking care of the common man,” the vice president asserted.

Governor Muhammed Abubakar of the state had earlier said that the scheme was introduced to enable people of the state have access to quality health services.

Abubakar said that the scheme would assist both the poor and rich have same qualitative health services.

Source:  NAN

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The report was submitted on Monday by the chairman of the probe panel, Dr. Bukar Hassan, to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha.

The seven-man panel was set up in November by the Federal Government to probe, among other things, the situation that led to the crisis between the board of the NHIS and Yusuf.

While receiving the report, Mustapha gave the assurance that the content of the report would be made public soon.

His words:  “I am delighted to receive the report of the panel on NHIS from the Chairman and members who were assigned to look at the immediate and remote causes of the conflict that engulfed the NHIS.

“The panel was earlier given two weeks to submit its report; it was, however, extended due to the nature of the work and the need to address core issues.

“I receive this report with deep sense of appreciation and I assure you that the report would be expeditiously processed for implementation.’’

Speaking during his presentation of the report, Hassan stated that the report contained some recommendations that required urgent attention.

He explained that his panel was painstaking in carrying out its duties in order to help improve the situation in the NHIS.

“In the course of the work, the panel had to interface with stakeholders including the Minister of Health, the Permanent Secretary, Chairman of Governing council, Unions, the National Assembly, among others.

“It is our belief and aspiration that our recommendations will reposition the scheme and proffer solutions to the challenges that have hindered the scheme in achieving its laudable objectives,’’ he said.

The Minister of Health, Professor Isaac Adewole presented at the occasion by the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Health, Mr Abdulaziz Abdullahi.

Other members of the panel are Dr. Emmanuel Meribole; Adewale Owolo; Shamsuddeen Bello; Ishaq Yahaya; Dr Ekanem John Udoh and Mrs. Jummai Idakwo.

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Yusuf spoke while appearing before the committee of the House of Representatives investigating the situation surrounding his suspension about two weeks ago.

The NHIS boss said there was a gang up against him and as a result of his refusal to release the money, a panel was set up to probe him.

He alleged that the panel was bribed with N19 million to indict him.

“The panel delivered as the panelists were given N19 million; even the security too were given money,” he said.

Yusuf said he had documents to prove his case.

He described his suspension on October 18 as a coup because, it came a day before  “the day I was going to present a result of the forensic audit.”

“It was a gang up to stop my fight against corruption.

“These are all allegations that have been recycled. They were all investigated by the ICPC and EFCC; and they found nothing and I was cleared. They wrote to me clearing me.”

He denied ever awarding contracts illegally, stating that his brother’s company which got a N406 million contract in 2016 did that following due process.

Following the controversy generated by his suspension over alleged financial malpractices and his forceful return to office, Yusuf was sent on leave on the order of President Muhammadu Buhari.

Yusuf was suspended indefinitely about two weeks ago.

His suspension was handed down by the governing council of the NHIS, led by Mrs. Ifenne Enyenatu.

The suspension was to allow for a thorough investigation of allegation of financial malpractices against him.

But a day after he was suspended, Yusuf forced his way into office.

His return resulted in protests at the NHIS.

But in a new twist to the case, an independent panel was said to have been set up to look into the case.

The panel is headed by Hassan Bukar.

The action of the government was announced by the Permanent Secretary (General Services Office) for the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Olusegun Adekunle, on Wednesday.

He said the order for Yusuf to proceed on leave was to prevent interference.

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The leave and setting up of a panel to probe the allegations against him were approved by President Muhammadu Buhari.

A Director in the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Ben Omogo, has been directed to act in the absence of Yusuf.

Yusuf was suspended indefinitely about two weeks ago.

His suspension was handed down by the governing council of the NHIS, led by Mrs. Ifenne Enyenatu.

The suspension was to allow for a thorough investigation of allegation of financial malpractices against him.

But a day after he was suspended, Yusuf forced his way into office.

His return has since caused protests at the NHIS.

But in a new twist to the case, an independent panel was said to have been set up to look into the case.

The panel is headed by Hassan Bukar.

The action of the government was announced by the Permanent Secretary (General Services Office) for the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Olusegun Adekunle, on Wednesday.

He said the order for Yusuf to proceed on leave was to prevent interference.

The statement issued by Adekunle reads:  “The federal government has observed with deep concern the growing tension between boards and chief executives and their attendant implications for governance.

“For the avoidance of doubt, government will neither tolerate acts of indiscipline from any appointee nor will it harbour any acts of corruption. Government will however ensure that due process is followed strictly in trying to maintain discipline and probity in public service.

“With specific reference to recent developments at the National Health Insurance Scheme, Mr. President has after due consideration approved the establishment of an independent fact-finding panel to investigate the alleged infractions by the executive secretary and report back within two weeks.”

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His suspension was handed down by the governing council of the NHIS, led by Mrs. Ifenne Enyenatu.

The suspension was to allow for a thorough investigation of allegation of financial malpractices against him.

Mallam Sadiq Abubakar has been assigned to act as the Executive Secretary.

Announcing the suspension, Enyenatu said the governing board had received several petitions against Yusuf, hence it became imperative to determine their genuineness or otherwise.

Enyenatu who disclosed that the Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole approved of the probe, said an administrative panel had been set up and given three months to submit its findings.

It would be recalled that Adewole suspended Yusuf in 2017 over alleged financial malpractices.

He was indicted by the probe panel set up.

However, President Muhammadu Buhari reinstated him February without any regard to the Minister of Health.

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