London, Dec. 16, 2018 (AltAfrica)-The report of Presidential Independent Panel on the NHIS crisis is ready and will be submitted to the government this week Alternativeafrica.com can exclusively report

The panel inaugurated by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Mustapha Boss on Friday November 2nd had its inaugural meeting same day in one of the conference rooms at the SGF’s 

Although the committee’s report is coming about three weeks late, but a source very close to the panel told Alternativeafrica.com that the delay was occasioned by the number of witnesses and officials who testified before the committee

” You know the controversy generated by this crisis across the country already. Because of that the panel invited over 30 witnesses and officials and we have to work at their pace. We have to agree on when their appearance will not be injurious to their daily job, that’s one of the reason we are behind schedule. The second of course, is the volume of the report itself. We are talking about a report in excess of 60 pages with recorded witness account, that will be available for everyone to see. You must take your time to do the job” the source said

The source also denied  a report in some section of the Nigeria media that the panel began sitting three weeks after inauguration as “complete false” “That’s what they like to do. Feed the nation with lies. The world knows that we began our sitting same day of the inauguration which was reported by your medium (Alternativeafrica.com) i read it my self. So how can same day now turn to three weeks” the source querried.

Continuing, the source said “there is a big difference between something is not ready and something is not submitted. That’s the fallacy in that report. It claimed that the report was not ready. No the report is ready but not submitted yet because everyone of the committee member has to be sure the report is very accurate and represent the true account of what transpired at the hearing. It is not a one man’s job

Alternativeafrica.com can has been informed that the report is to be received by Mr Olusegun Adekunle, Permanent Secretary (General Services Office), office of the secretary to the government this week

Alternativeafrica.com has it on good authority that the secretary to the committee Jumai Ndako a director at the SGF office gave the assurance on Friday in a telephone conversation 

The Assistant Director of Communication, Office of the SGF, Olusegun Adetola, who spoke with Alternativeafrica.com corroborated the development. He said the nature of the assignment and the controversy it had generated meant that the panel must take its time to do a job that must stand the test of time

 Related Content:PRESIDENTIAL INDEPENDENT PANEL ON NHIS HOLDS INAUGURAL SITTING

He stated that the assurance that the report would be submitted this week was given by the secretary of the panel, Jumai Ndako.

It is recalled that the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, in a statement by the Permanent Secretary (General Services Office), Olusegun Adekunle, on October 31, 2018, announced the setting up of the committee.

“With specific reference to recent developments at the National Health Insurance Scheme, Mr President has, after due consideration, approved the establishment of an independent fact-finding panel to investigate the alleged infractions by the executive secretary and report back within two weeks.”Adekunle said in the statement.

The setting up of the  independent fact finding panel came after weeks of wranglings in the NHIS which culminated in the suspension of its executive secretary professor Usman Yusuf . The NHIS Board, headed by Ifenne Enyanatu, on October 18, announced the suspension  after obtaining permission from the Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole.

But a day after his suspension Yusuf defied th order  and resumed work a development which generated a lot of crisis

In an interview with the Hausa Service of the BBC on Tuesday, October 23, Yusuf  vowed never to accept his suspension by the board because “the governing board has no right to suspend me as the executive secretary.