The Governor of Kebbi, Nasir Idris, has suspended Yunusa Musa-Ismail, the state’s Commissioner for Health, over alleged negligence of duty.
Yahaya Sarki, the governor’s special adviser on media and publicity, announced the suspension in a statement on Thursday.
Sarki added that the commissioner has been asked to provide strong reasons why disciplinary action should not be taken against him for his alleged negligence and disregard for his mandate.
“By this directive, the commissioner is hereby suspended from office until further notice,” the statement reads.
Sarki said the governor reiterated his administration’s commitment to accountability, discipline, and effective service delivery across all sectors. He added that Idris also stressed that public officers must justify the confidence placed in them.
The suspension follows mounting criticism of Kebbi’s healthcare system after a journalist, Hassan Mai-Waya Kangiwa, published a viral video showing patients at Kangiwa General Hospital lying on bare metal beds without mattresses. The journalist also released a viral video of a flooded hospital in the state.
The video sparked public outrage, renewing concerns over the state of healthcare facilities in Kebbi and increasing pressure on the government to address long-standing issues in the sector. The journalist was reportedly arrested and detained after publishing the video.