Yusuf’s Reinstatement: Buhari’s Anti-Corruption War Lopsided – Adegboruwa, ASCSN

A Lagos lawyer and human right activist, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, has said President Muhammadu Buhari’s anti-corruption war is lopsided.
Adegboruwa said this, yesterday, in reaction to the reinstatement of suspended Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Prof Usman Yusuf by the President.
Similarly, the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria has said the reinstatement of the Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme, Prof Usman Yusuf by President Muhammadu Buhari, is another dent on the anti-corruption war.
The Lagos lawyer said, “I believe that in this circumstance, given the fact that the suspension was handed down by a superior, the principle of delegation of authority would have allowed for some caution from the Presidency from recalling somebody who is still under probe.
“The impression we get is that government is very soft on the members of the executive. If you recall the case of the former SGF; the allegation against the Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai; the allegation against the Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari; and when you recall the case of former pension reform task team, Abdulraheed Maina; clearly, the impression has been created that the ruling government is soft on members of the executive, whereas the leadership of the Senate is facing trial, whereas judicial officers are facing trial.
“It all lends credence to the fact that the anti-corruption war is lopsided. It has different standards for different people, which should not have been the case,” the human rights activist added.
Meanwhile, in a statement issued, last Wednesday, ASCSN Secretary-General, Alade Lawal, said the action of the President shows that the government’s anti-graft was selective.
The statement reads, “This is one intervention too many and as such Mr. President should allow Yusuf to retire from service to have time to run his personal business. How can a government official being investigated for a whopping sum of N919million fraud by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) be reinstated by the government that came to power promising to sanitise the system? This is very unfortunate.
“We, therefore, urge President Buhari to rescind his action and allow Yusuf to leave the system in peace.
“Thus, if Yusuf resumes as the executive secretary of NHIS, it will amount to passing a vote of no confidence on the minister.
“What type of a government are we claiming to be running that anyone who is close to the President will become lawless, will not obey public service rules, nor report to the supervisory minister, and running a government agency as his personal estate because he is close to the powers-that-be? This is the type of action that continues to give the likes of the United States President, Donald Trump, the effrontery to be deriding Africa and its leaders.
“The Investigative Panel set up by the Minister of Health, Prof Isaac Adewale to look into the alleged atrocities of Yusuf, including engagement of a consultancy firm in which he had vested interest to be ripping off the NHIS is a serious public demeanour that should not be condoned.
“It is also on record that Yusuf had recruited persons from his primordial constituency who are on Grade Level 10 in the State Public Service, and imposed them on the staff of the NHIS by placing them on Grade Level 15 and above.
“As of the time of going to the press, the workers in the NHIS have become restive thereby setting the tone for a series of trade union actions that will be deployed if Yusuf is eventually reinstated,” the union added.