Fresh documents vindicate NAHCON boss amid alleged mismanagement, welfare dispute

Fresh documents have shed light on the deepening rift within the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), with senior insiders alleging that its chairman, Professor Abdullahi Saleh Usman, is facing a coordinated effort to remove him from office despite evidence of adherence to due process.

The commission, the federal agency responsible for regulating Hajj and Umrah operations, has been mired in disputes between Usman and some non-executive board members, who accuse him of sidelining them in decision-making, particularly during preparations for the recently concluded 2025 Hajj.

The feud escalated to the point of a petition to Vice President Kashim Shettima, prompting a meeting at the Presidential Villa. Lawmakers also intervened at the time, holding talks where grievances were aired and clarifications offered. The matter appeared settled, at least temporarily.

Adding to the turmoil, some NAHCON staff staged protests over alleged poor welfare, favoritism, and irregular postings.

READ ALSO:Kwankwaso flays attack on NAHCON chairman

Usman, appointed by President Bola Tinubu and confirmed by the National Assembly in October 2024, has since faced a steady stream of petitions accusing him of procedural breaches and staff neglect. However, internal correspondence now indicates that many of these claims may be misleading.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) recently questioned senior NAHCON officials — including Aliu Abdulrazak, Commissioner of Policy, Personnel and Finance (PPMF), and Aminu Muhammed, Director of Finance and Accounts (DFA) — over alleged fraud and mismanagement during the latest Hajj exercise.

But memos reviewed show Usman regularly sought input from relevant officers, ensured expenses were budgeted, and questioned irregular requests before granting approvals.

One memo dated May 10, 2025, showed his approval of ₦41.28 million as a welfare package for 161 personnel not deployed to the 2025 Hajj. Beneficiaries included NAHCON staff, casual workers, NSCDC operatives, corps members, IT students, and cleaners, with payments processed through the Commissioner, PPMF, after budget verification.

Other documents revealed approvals of ₦11.34 million for Duty Tour Allowance and travel benefits for six board members supervising pilgrim airlifts, ₦12.34 million for staff training under the Association of National Accountants of Nigeria’s continuing education program, and ₦9 million for office equipment procurement.

According to officials who spoke anonymously, the petitions fueling the EFCC probe are part of a “broader plot to remove the chairman.”

“Some of the commissioners received money wrongly at that time and they were informed and some of them had been paying back. It is those who are refusing to pay back that are being arrested by the EFCC. Some have even finished paying.

“So all these accusations and the claim of lack of due process, nepotism, or that he ignores commissioners are from disgruntled individuals who want him out to pursue their own interests. He is being distracted for refusing to yield to selfish demands,” one official alleged.

Another senior source accused certain board members and officials of State Pilgrims’ Welfare Boards of leading a smear campaign.

“The board is only meant to provide policy guidance and meets four times a year as required by the NAHCON Act. All of them are carried along, but some want to run the commission as if they own it,” the source said.

On allegations surrounding Hajj slots, the source noted that Usman personally paid for his wives’ participation, despite NAHCON’s policy of granting staff a 50-percent fee concession for spouses and children.

“Typically, the commission provides what is called a ‘spouse’ allowance. For staff members, whether male or female, only 50 percent of the total Hajj fee is required, even for their children. But he paid for his wives,” the official added.

Some management staff, the source further explained, chose to sell their slots instead of using them for family members.