At Last, PMB Sacks Prof Yusuf As NHIS Boss, Appoints Prof Sambo As Replacement

BY AMOS DUNIA, ABUJA – After months of foot dragging, President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday approved the termination of the appointment of the suspended Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Professor Usman Yusuf.

The sack of Prof Yusuf, who has been on administrative leave followed the recommendations of a report by an Independent Fact Finding Panel on NHIS.

Accordingly, President Buhari has approved the appointment of Prof. Mohammed Nasir Sambo as the new Executive Secretary of the NHIS.

A statement by the Director, Media and Public Relations in the Federal Ministry of Health, Mrs. Boade Akinola stated that President Buhari 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.

In a related development, President Buhari has also approved the appointment of Dr. ChikweAndreas Ihekweazu as Director General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).

The appointment of Dr. Ihekweazu is in line with the provisions of section 11(1)(3) of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (Establishment) Act, 2018.