Friday, March 29, 2024

‘Yusufgate’: One absurdity too many

Again, like rivulets trickling down the cottage rack, public condemnations have been assailing the sudden decision by President Muhammadu Buhari to reinstate the suspended Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme, Prof. Usman Yusuf.
Yusuf was suspended in June 2017 by the Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, following his indictment by an administrative panel set up by the Minister to probe allegations of gross misconduct and financial recklessness levelled against him.
But before the hammer, there had been a war of words between Adewole and Yusuf as to who reserved the authority to enforce discipline on the other. While Yusuf claimed that he was directly responsible to the President, Adewole kicked, saying the NHIS was an institution under the Federal Ministry of Health.
Meanwhile, following the indictment by the health ministry’s probe panel, accusing the NHIS boss of dipping his hand into the till of health workers’ insurance scheme’s savings, and spiriting away close to N1bn, the country’s leading anti-graft agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, swiftly moved in. The EFCC gamboled around as if it would bite in the way of arresting, grilling and prosecuting Yusuf in the open court; but the Nigerian public was rudely shocked as it opened its eyes wide to meet with pitch darkness. Nothing was any longer heard about the Yusuf saga.

While reinstating Yusuf to the detriment of the jaded and helpless Health Minister last week, the government offered no explanation for its action, other than that it would not stop the EFCC from conducting its investigation. Such an unreasonable action should not have passed what should be ‘the prying eyes’ of the National Assembly

But last week, the Buhari administration released what came as the boom of thunderbolt, by issuing a fiat to the effect that Yusuf had been reinstated and should return to his duty post. Apparently dazed, deflated and bureaucratically mummified, Prof. Adewole, the minister, could only mumble these words to a reporter who asked for his reaction to the sudden return of suspended Yusuf: what you have heard in the news is true.
Without equivocation, the Buhari administration has now elevated the debauchery of brazen conducts to a state art, in the possible belief that any insensitive and unjust action of the administration enjoys immunity against consequence. Were it not so, why would government, barely two months after having been embroiled in the ‘Mainagate scandal’, launch a similar assault on the sensibility of stoic Nigerians?
In the unresolved scam involving Abdulrasheed Maina, the chairman of the defunct Presidential Task Force on Pension Reforms, who was alleged to have, in concert with others, embezzled about N2bn pensioners’ sweat, Buhari’s Presidency simply gave vent to sheer misnomer, for reasons best known to it. Maina, while still being investigated, escaped justice and ran into a hideout outside the country. But the Presidency, through some official abracadabra that is still befuddling, not only went all out to woo back Maina, like the biblical prodigal son, but also further succoured him greatly, by secretly reinstating and promoting him.
For a Buhari administration classed for its professed war against corruption, the Maina incident was a big dent, portraying the government as insincere and possibly, a wolf in the sheep’s clothing. A repeat performance in the case of Yusuf, without doubt, is not only benumbing, but also a clear indication that the Federal Government’s anti-corruption war may be a ruse.
While reinstating Yusuf to the detriment of the jaded and helpless Health Minister last week, the government offered no explanation for its action, other than that it would not stop the EFCC from conducting its investigation. Such an unreasonable action should not have passed what should be ‘the prying eyes’ of the National Assembly, which should stop the Federal Government in its tracks, as the latter has rubbished a hallowed civil service code. The lawmakers should point the attention of the Buhari presidency to Section 9 of the Civil Service Regulation (Amendment) Act, which prescribes suspension without pay for any public officer undergoing fraud probe.
After all, when the then Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, and Director General of the National Intelligence Agency, Ayo Oke, were fingered in corruption-related cases, they were suspended to enable a high-wired probe of their alleged infractions. Once they were indicted, they were shown the
way out.
So, why is the Yusuf case different? Was he not indicted by a panel raised by the Ministry of Health? If the Federal Government was convinced that the health Minister acted outside his brief, why did it not institute a separate probe panel to investigate Yusuf? Why was Yusuf reinstated without any explanation as to why he had to return to his duty post? Is Yusuf a sacred cow?
At this juncture, government’s only credible damage-control measure is to save its name from the opprobrium of aiding and abetting corruption. It should reverse the reinstatement of Yusuf and return to the status quo.
Even if the NHIS is not under the control of the health ministry, an alleged corrupt practice had been spotted by a probe panel, made up of professionals in accounting procedures and auditing. Therefore, their submissions should be investigated properly.
Government’s argument that Yusuf could remain in office while the EFCC probe lasts, is as lame as it is jaundiced, in the sense that, he is now in the right stead to tamper with any investigation; since he is in charge.
Coming at a time the administration’s popularity has dipped drastically, owing to its undisguised dumbness in the face of various massacres by suspected Fulani herdsmen, and in its failing efforts at restoring normalcy to the fuel scarcity problem, the Buhari administration should have, at least, striven to stand a pole away from scandal, and not engage in ‘reggae dance’ inside it.
A word is enough for the wise.

Popular Articles