Labour to petition EFCC over ‘corruption’ in health ministry

Labour leaders in the agencies under the ministry of health have disclosed plans to petition the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Related Offences Commission (ICPC) over alleged corruption.

The agencies include the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) and the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA).

The decision was sequel to a resolution by the House of Representatives Committee on Health Services to either suspend the NHIS and amend the act setting up the scheme.

Speaking in Abuja, chairman of the committee, Chike Okafor said the scheme have become a ‘conduit pipe’ for corrupt individuals.

"What was conceived to make healthcare affordable and accessible to workers has been transformed to a conduit pipe by some persons and organizations to enrich individuals and organizations,” Okafor said.

They alleged that the chief executives must have been acting in collusion with the Minister.

Reacting to the allegation, the director of press in the ministry of health, Aboade Akinola, feigns ignorance of the development, but requested time to get clarifications.

“I am not aware of such, so I need to get a brief from my Principal. I will talk to the relevant officers and let you have my findings. As soon as the Hon Minister returns, I will brief him also,” she said

When contacted, the NPHCDA public relations, Saidu Salahu, describes the allegation as false and unfounded.

He said, the new executive director was repositioning the organization in line with the mandate given to him by the President, for efficiency and meeting the needs of Nigerians.

“The story is unfounded, the ED only upgraded zonal coordinators of the agency to zonal directors and three directors were moved out of the headquarters to head three of the six zones in the country.

“It is only upgrade that happened and the movement does not affect seniority in NPHCDA and not a demotion as alleged by your source,” the spokesman said.

He added that the development at the Agency does not contravened the public service rules.

Efforts to get officials of NHIS to speak on the matter proved abortive, as officials were unwilling to speak to the press on the matter.