SGF encouraging corruption, impunity in public service – Labour

Organised labour under the platform of Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN) says the position by Boss Mustapha, Secretary to the Government of Federation (SGF), that members of boards of government agencies and parastatals cannot sanction the chief executives of such organisations, is a licence for impunity, lawlessness and corruption by such public officers.

Alade Lawal, secretary-general of ASCSN, who stated this, also urged President Muhammadu Buhari to call the SGF to order. Lawal was reacting to the resumption in office twice by Usman Yusuf, executive secretary of National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), after his suspension, first by the minister of health, and second by the governing board of the NHIS.

He quoted Section 8(3) of the National Health Insurance Scheme, which states, “the executive secretary shall, subject to the general direction of the council, be responsible for the day-to-day administration of the scheme.”

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Section 13(1) also stipulates that, “The council shall cause to be prepared, not later than 30 September in each year, an estimate of the expenditure and income of the Scheme during the next succeeding year and when prepared, they shall be submitted to the minister for approval.

“The council shall cause to be kept proper accounts of the scheme and proper records in relation thereto and when certified by the council, the accounts shall be audited by auditors appointed by the council from the list and in accordance with the guidelines supplied by the auditor-general for the federation.

“Where then did Mustapha get the idea from that the NHIS executive secretary, UsmanYusuf, should run the agency like a sole administrator, breaking all rules and norms, indulging in all manner of financial recklessness without the governing council questioning him and suspending him where necessary.”

The union further said: “Where in the world do board members of government agencies and parastatals stand arms akimbo as mere spectators while the chief executives under them turn such organisations into private estates running them as slave camps, indulging in financial recklessness without the supervisory boards calling them to order.

“Mr. Mustapha’s announcement is an invitation for unbridled corruption to continue to thrive under President Buhari who has vowed to stamp out graft in the society particularly in the ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs).

“How then can the SGF be encouraging chief executives of government agencies and parastatals to be operating as emperors, fiddling with public finances without statutory checks and balances provided by members of the Boards of such organisations.”
The union regretted that it was this type of mindset that has made Usman Yusuf, the executive secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) to continue to insist that he cannot report to the minister of health nor the governing council of the agency but only to President Buhari.