NHIS ES Suspension: Reps Have No Role In Internal Investigation Set Up By A Ministry – Sagay

The chairman, presidential advisory committee against corruption, Itse Sagay, has said that the House of Representatives has no role to play in the internal investigation set up by any ministry.

Sagay said this during an interview with Punch in reaction to the lawmakers seven days ultimatum for the reinstatement of the suspended executive secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (

Recall that the Minister of Health, Isaac Adewole, suspended Yusuf following allegations of corruption levelled against him.

Adewole had slammed a three-month suspension on Yusuf to pave way for an independent probe of the ‘mountains’ of petitions against him.

Sagay, in reaction to the Lawmakers call, said that there is “a disease plaguing the national assembly”, adding that their directive is “null and void”.

“Whatever the case may be, the house certainly has no role in the internal investigation set up by a ministry,” he said.

“This is the disease plaguing the national assembly which thinks it is the executive arm of government. That pronouncement of the house giving the minister seven days to reinstate the NHIS boss is null and void.

“If they cannot concentrate on their job and want to do the job of the executive, we are going to have a big problem on our hands. We will have chaos and confusion.

“So, that directive is null and void. It is outside of their jurisdiction. They were elected primarily to make laws.”

On whether the Health Minister has the power to sack Yusuf, Sagay said; “I believe the minister has the power to suspend the head of an agency. It is probably in the rules guiding the civil service. I know that the minister is the chief executive officer of the ministry and so he can suspend but of course he cannot suspend indefinitely,” he added.

“And, of course, there has to be a proper inquiry that would be set up to establish his guilt or innocence and the person must be present to defend himself.

“The suspension is to enable the accused person to clear himself and to give room for proper investigation and the power to suspend lies in the CEO of the ministry.”