‘We’ll fight back’ — NHIS ES breaks silence

Usman Yusuf, executive secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), has vowed to fight back.

According to ThisDay, Yusuf said this at a programme in Sokoto state on Thursday.

Isaac Adewole, minister of health, had suspended the NHIS executive secretary over some corruption allegations.

Adewole had said Yusuf could not provide a satisfactory explanation to the issues raised against him.

However, President Muhammadu Buhari reinstated Yusuf two weeks ago, sparking an outrage.

Workers at the headquarters of the scheme are currently divided, with some vowing not to return to work until Buhari reverse the action on Yusuf.

At the programme on Thursday, Yusuf was quoted to have attributed his recent travail to corrupt individuals bent on destroying his career.

Appealing to Nigerians to disregard the “misinformation in the media” Yusuf reportedly said no amount of smear campaigns would deter him from bringing healthcare to the people.

“It is corruption that is fighting us and we will fight them back,” he said.

“People should not be distracted by what they hear in the media. In fact, when I came in as the NHIS Executive Secretary, I realised that we can help our people especially the poor to access health care services.

“We are working for the people in order to make sure that they get what they deserve. So, we will never be deterred by the antics of corrupt interests.”