Senate wades into NHIS, NPHCDA crisis

The Senate on Wednesday resolved to investigate the raging crisis in the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) and the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA).

The decision was following a motion by Senator Mao Ohuabunwa (PDP, Abia North) who observed that Nigerians whose health needs the scheme is meant to serve, have been at the receiving end of the prolonged crisis in the NHIS.

Ohuabunwa’s motion dwelt on the need to enthrone good governance, probity, reduction of high-handedness of operators, elimination of corruption and improving over all efficiency in the scheme.

He observed that many federal agencies have moved away from direct focus on serving citizens and advancing economic and social development.

The senator stated that instead, the NHIS has been embroiled in entrenching impunity that borders on personality cults, which runs contrary to the objectives of the federal government.

It was also observed that the crisis at the NHIS stemmed from allegations and counter allegations of high-handedness, fraudulent cost manipulation and illegal investments.

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The senators similarly observed cases of unprofessional manipulation of human resources that led to clashes between the management of the NHIS and the Governing Board of the agency.

The motion also observed similar developments at the NPHCDA where the Executive Director has been accused of high-handedness, reckless spending and illegal purchase of unwanted vehicles.

It also listed Intimidation and unwarranted transfer of senior staff members without regards to due process as some of the ills plaguing the agency.

“Conscious of the fact that these unguarded executive and administrative processes pervading our public agencies, if not verified, checked and redirected for good.

“The important roles of our public agencies in advancing the economic, social and general well being of our citizens will be seriously impaired, and our nascent democracy will gradually lose its steam to emerging impunity of government appointed self-serving titans now looming large”.

Consequently, the Senate mandated its joint committees on Primary Health Care and Communicable Diseases and the Health Committee to wade into the crisis of confidence and the alleged corruption plaguing the two federal agencies.

The joint committees were given two weeks within which to submit a report to the Senate.