NHIS: REPS TO PROBE ALLEGED 10BN WITHDRAWAL

The Nigerian House of Representatives resolved yesterday to investigate the alleged illegal withdrawal of N10 billion from the account of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).

It has mandated its committees on Healthcare Services, Anti-Corruption and Finance to look into the matter and report back, for this reason.

The decision was die to the adoption of a motion on the need to investigate the Illegal withdrawal of the sum of N10 billion from the “Insured Persons” Fund of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) sponsored by Hon. Chike Okafor.

In his debate, Okafor noted that for the purpose of carrying out the mandate of the Scheme, a fund made up of five per cent contribution by each insured person is maintained with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), under the Treasury Single Account (TSA) policy for the administration of the Scheme.

He also noted that the withdrawal of monies from such designated accounts under the TSA at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), by any government agency is done upon the request of the Chief Accounting Officer of the Agency.

He however informed the house that two withdrawals of N5 billion each (totaling N10 billion) were made from the “Insured Persons” Funds account with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on 28 December, 2016 and 11 January, 2018 respectively adding that the withdrawals were made while the Executive-Secretary of the Scheme, Prof. Usman Yusuf, was suspended.

Okafor explained, “Upon inquiry the executive-secretary informed the committee that neither him nor any staff of the agency made any request for either of the two withdrawals stating that the withdrawals were authorized by the minister of Finance without the input of the agency and in contravention of the laws and regulations governing such actions.
“Such practices, if not checked, will erode public and international confidence in the Scheme and make a mockery of the anti-corruption stance of the present government”.

The members supported calls for the summons of minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun and the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele to shed light on how the withdrawals were authorised.
In his contribution, Hon. Muhammed Sani-Abdu, who worried that the TSA may be mismanaged, also noted the need for anti-graft agencies to investigate the transactions.

Recall that the health services committee in a meeting with the NHIS chief shortly after his recall in February, sought clarification on the alleged disappearance of N10 billion from the agency’s coffers.

In his response, Yusuf maintained that the money was not missing from the agency’ vault and explained that the money was erroneously transferred to the consolidated revenue account, at the instance of the Ministry of Finance and the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation who view NHIS as a revenue generating agency.

The executive secretary further informed that the said N8.8 billion was paid into consolidated revenue account following a memo from the Federal Ministry of Finance that NHIS pay for “operational surplus” as a revenue generating agency.

Comments

6 Herdsmen Remanded in prison Over Benue killings

Makurdi chief magistrate’s courtroom, presided over by Mr. Isaac Ajim, has denied bail to six herdsmen arrested over the brand new yr day assaults on Guma and logo neighborhood authorities areas of Benue state. The suspects were first arraigned on January 5 before Mr. Ajim, who ordered that the accused remanded in Makurdi Medium prison until the day before today. The accused men and women— Ibrahim Saleh, Jibrin Adamu, Magaji Yau, Ibrahim Abubakar, Useni Bala and Sabin Yau— were charged for culpable murder, crook conspiracy, mischief via fire, grievous hurt and violation of the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches establishment regulation 2017. They had been also arraigned for rearing their cows in farmlands at Akor village in Guma council, thereby contravening section 97, 329, 333 and 222 of the Penal Code laws of Benue nation and segment 19(2)(3) of the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches status quo regulation of Benue nation, 2017. No plea was taken for need of ...

SEE WHY THE WORLD DISRESPECTS AFRICA.

A former American Ambassador to Nigeria has spoken out about why the rest of the world still disrespects the African continent Amb. Walter Carrington (OFR), a former American Ambassador to Nigeria, has said that the failure of Africa to fully realise its potential has earned it scorn rather than respect in the comity of nations. The outspoken diplomat noted that the failure of the continent’s leaders to guarantee socio-political development was robbing it of an enviable place on the global scale. Carrington dissected Africa’s dilemmas in Lagos on Monday when he delivered a lecture titled Nigeria and Africa in a Changing World. The event, which also witnessed the presentation of Defend the Defenseless, the memoir of the ambassador’s wife, Dr. Arese Carrington, attracted many dignitaries from all walks of life. While the former Chairman of Punch Nigeria Limited, Chief Ajibola Ogunshola, was the chairman on the occasion, the Oba of Lagos, HRM Rilwan Akiolu, ...

WELCOME

Welcome to my sure news. Where you will be updated, with information about latest happenings in Nigeria, Africa and arround the world. HERE in my sure news we provide you sure information just when the media is yet to cover it. We are first on the go. happy reading with us. Happy new year.

we can now join APC in ONELGA without being killed- Defectors

PORT HARCOURT — All Progressives Congress, APC, participants in Ogba Ndoni Egbema local government area, ONELGA, Rivers state, have expressed comfort that they can now publicly claim membership of the party without fear of being focused or killed by way of partisan competitors. speakme at a gathering in Omoku, ONELGA headquarters, wherein the party chieftain and leader chief medical Director university of Port Harcourt teaching health facility, Prof Henry Ugbomah, admitted one hundred new contributors, including defectors from the Peoples Democratic party, PDP, to the APC, Ugbomah cited that common politically stimulated killings earlier than and after the 2015 widespread election completed by means of the fear of now eliminated Johnson Igwedibia, a.k.a. Don Waney, in large part targeted APC individuals and consequently deterred them from vote casting for the party in the course of elections. He stated: “The bloodsuckers who stored us in jail are no longer there...

TEACHERS FAIL APTITUDE TEST IN LAGOS

The Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria, TRCN, Lagos State, on Monday said about 51 teachers did fail the Professional Qualifying Examination, PQE, conducted by the council on 14th of october Gbolahan Enilolobo, the state coordinator of the council, disclosed that 412 teachers sat for the maiden edition of the examination. He said the failure of the teachers was mainly because they were not conversant with the use of the computer, adding that many of them are not digitally compliant. The TRCN had on October 14 conducted the examination for the teachers, through Computer Based Test, CBT. The examination was to qualify the successful teachers to register as professionals and be licensed with the council. According to Enilolobo, the unsuccessful teachers will have to re-register for the examination, and after three consecutive attempts, if they still fail, they will be disqualified. “About three of the teachers exited without even completing the examination, indi...

10 Reasons why the Church should involve in politics

Recent events have raised the issue, Should the pulpit always avoid politics? It depends on what we mean by “politics;” it demeans the pulpit to use it for partisan politics. But here are ten reasons why I don’t think politics and religion should (or even can) be completely separate: 1) The Word of God has something to say about all of life, beyond just the spiritual. My long-time pastor, Dr. D. James Kennedy, once noted that the Church of Jesus Christ has always been opposed to abortion—from the very beginning. It still is. In the last generation, abortion has become a “political” issue. Does that mean, asked Dr. Kennedy, we should now ignore it in the pulpit? No, because the Bible is pro-life. 2) The Bible itself addresses the issue of governing in different texts. There are biblical books dealing with political rulers—1 and 2 Samuel, 1 and 2 Kings, Judges. In Genesis and in Daniel, we see godly men serving well in pagan courts, for the good of all. In Romans 13 and 1...

Catholics return to CAN After 5 years of Absence

Catholics return to CAN after five years absence. The Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, CSN, has returned to the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, after five years of walking out of the national Christian Umbrella body in the country over some irreconcilable differences with the leadership. Vanguard recalls that Catholic Bishops had in a letter dated September 24, 2012 which was signed by their President, Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama, and addressed to the then CAN President, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, announced the withdrawal of the Catholic church from the organisation. However, in 2017, Kaigama led a delegation from the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria, CBCN, to the CAN National secretariat where, in a meeting with the CAN President, Rev Dr Samson Ayokunle and his team, they addressed the identified grey areas and fashioned out wways of addressing them. Sequel to that, Kaigama disclosed the readiness of the Catholics to work with the new CAN leadership. Last week Thu...

MY SURE NEWS

Search This Blog