Why I Boycotted House Of Reps Invitation – Health Minister

Minister of Health, Isaac Adewole has defended his inability to honour an invitation given to appear before the House of Representatives.

In a letter addressed to the house committee on healthcare services, Mr Adewole attributed his absence to a scheduled visit to Osun state which clashed with the date of the invitation.

Also, the minister said he boycotted the invitation because he did not want any interference with the outcome of the panel investigating Usman Yusuf, Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).

He however assured the committee that he would make the outcome of the investigation known to them.

The lawmakers had summoned the minister over his decision to suspend Yusuf. The committee also ordered the Mr Adewole to reinstate Yusuf but the minister refused.

“Mr Chairman, may I inform you that the federal ministry of health with the approval of the acting president and head ofservice is currently conducting an administrative panel of enquiry on NHIS including the suspended executive secretary – Professor Usman Yusuf,” the letter addressed to John Okafor, chairman of the committee, read.

“I am expecting that in a couple of days, the committee should submit her report to my office. Secondly, I have committed myself to a national programme as part of the stakeholder’s meeting including the executive governor of Osun. The programme is being supported by the Engender Health and beneficiaries are expected from all over the country.

“In the light of the above, I wish to respectfully crave your indulgence to be excused from the meeting of 27th July 2017 to avoid making any statement that will affect the outcome of the committee and also attend the programme that I already planned. I promise to share and discuss the outcome of the administrative panel with you when I receive the final report.”