By Talatu Maiwada
Abuja – Alhaji Atahiru Ibrahim, the Acting Executive Secretary, National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), has pledged to ensure strict adherence to public procurement rules in the execution of projects by the scheme.
Ibrahim said this in a statement signed by Mr Ayo Osinlu, the NHIS Head, Media and Public Relations, on Monday in Abuja.
He noted that abuse of due processes has been a major cause of ‘clashes’ with the law by chief executives.
He said the management of the scheme was therefore determined to plug all administrative and technical loopholes which had made the organisation vulnerable in the process of procurement activities.
According to the acting chief executive, abuse of process is as critical and intolerable as financial fraud under the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) rules; “we are therefore introducing initiatives to protect the institution now and in the future’’.
He said this would ensure the continuous repositioning of the scheme for credible, transparent and responsible discharge of its corporate obligations.
“The new management of the scheme is committed to plugging all administrative and technical loopholes that make organisations vulnerable in the process of procurement activities.
“We are doing this as part of initiatives to protect the institution now and in the future, as efforts are continuing to reposition it for credible, transparent and responsible discharge of its corporate obligations,” Ibrahim said.
The statement also quoted Mr Eze Obasi, the BPP Director of Special Procurement, as saying:
“Infringement on procurement laws is the easiest and quickest way to go to jail; therefore I am calling for attitudinal change with respect to procurement practice.’’
Obasi said that when the attitudes of individuals conform to the codes of conduct the country would be free of corruption.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that Ibrahim assumed duty as the acting executive secretary of NHIS in July 2017.
On his assumption of duty, the acting chief executive pledged to fast-track easy access to healthcare delivery for Nigerians. (NAN)