FG’s panel on NHIS submits report

The Presidential Independent Fact-Finding Panel on National Health Insurance Scheme (PIFFP-NHIS) has submitted its report to the federal government.Speaking during the presentation of the report yesterday in Abuja, Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, restated the government’s interest in the good working relationship between the boards and the management, while ensuring non-interference in their operations.

Government had approved the constitution and inauguration of boards and governing councils of its parastatals in March 2018. During the inauguration, it emphasised key areas on the powers and responsibilities of the boards.

The SGF explained: “To bring new board members and their chief executives up to speed on current policies and programmes of government, as well as legislations guiding conduct of government business, broad-based induction courses were organised.”

According to him, till at date, over 60 agencies in four batches have benefited from such induction courses, with the NHIS in the first batch.Despite these efforts, Mustapha said government continued to observe that different skirmishes erupted from boardrooms to the public domain.

With particular reference to the situation at NHIS, he said that “government regards the scheme as critical to its promise” to Nigerians that they would enjoy qualitative and affordable healthcare.

Government, he added, also regards healthcare delivery as a cardinal programme that has gulped fortunes because a healthy nation is a wealthy nation.His words: “Given the foregoing, therefore, Mr. President, on the recommendation of my office, approved the constitution of a seven-member PIFFP headed by a retired permanent secretary to look at the immediate and remote causes of the conflict that engulfed the NHIS.”

The panel was inaugurated on November 2, 2018 and charged with a five-point Terms of Reference (ToR), including examining all governance issues in the scheme.The panel was given two weeks to submit its report. However, the assignment had to be extended due to the nature of the work and the need to address core issues once for all. He assured that government’s decision on the recommendations of the panel would be made public at the appropriate time.