The Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, has suspended
more top officials of the National Health Insurance Scheme.
Those affected include; Olufemi Akingbade, the General
Manger, Zonal Coordinator South South Zone; John Okon, General Manager, Finance
Account; Yusuf Fatika, the General Manager, Human Resources and Administration;
and Shehu Adamu, the Assistant General Manager, Audit.
Also suspended are Vincent Mamdam, the Assistant General
Manager, Head Insurance; Safiyanu Attah – Senior Assistant Officer, Marketing;
Owen Udo Udoma, Senior Manager, Contribution Management; and Innocent Abbah,
Senior Assistant Officer, Planning Research and Monitoring.
According to a statement from the Ministry of Health, the
suspension of the officers was based on the “activities of the investigative
panel of inquiry and the desire to have an uninterrupted and robust
investigation of all petitions at the National Health Insurance Scheme,
including security reports on maladministration and mismanagement by officials
of the Agency.”
The statement said the suspension was to “pave way for
thorough investigation.”
Adewole urged the investigative committee, “to remain
focused, fair and transparent in the discharge of this national task despite
the sensation this development has generated.”
The Acting Executive Secretary of the scheme, Attahiru
Ibrahim, was directed to ensure the immediate implementation of the suspension
order.
By Wale Odunsi
