Board members of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) have petitioned President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, calling for the removal of the commission's chairman, Prof. Abdullahi Saleh Usman.
The commissioners accused the chairman of corruption, incompetence and abuse of office.
Efforts to obtain the chairman's reaction were unsuccessful, as his media aide, Ahmad Muazu, said he was in a meeting and could not be reached at the time.
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But in an earlier interview with Daily Trust, the chairman said most of the complaints from within the commission are largely driven by bitterness "because someone felt bitter that others travelled to Saudi Arabia without them, or because someone complained that another person had received something and they did not."
The petition dated 19 January 2026 was titled Vote of No Confidence in the Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Prof. Abdullahi Saleh Usman.
It was signed by Commissioner, Planning, Research, Statistics, Information & Library Services -PRSILS, Professor Abubakar A. Yagawal; Commissioner, Operations, Inspectorate and Licensing, Prince Anofi Elegushi; Commissioner, Policy, Personnel, Management & Finance, Prince Aliu Abdulrazaq; Commissioner, Representing North Central, Prof. Muhammad Umaru Ndagi; Commissioner Representing North East, Alhaji Abba Jato Kala; Commissioner Representing North West, Sheikh Muhammad Bin Uthman; Commissioner Representing South West, Dr Tajudeen Abefe Oladejo; Commissioner Representing South East, Hajia Aishat Obi Ahmed; Commissioner Representing South South, Hajia Zainab Musa; Commissioner Representing Jama'atul Nasril Islam (JNI), Prof. Musa Inuwa Fodio and Commissioner Representing Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Professor Mahfouz A. Adedimeji.
The board members said their call for the chairman's removal followed prolonged internal observations, after repeated attempts at corrective engagement failed and persistent leadership shortcomings undermined the commission's credibility, stability, and operational effectiveness.
They alleged that the chairman has engaged in financial indiscipline, citing a lack of transparency and actions that fall short of the standards set by the commission's established public financial regulations.
They further claimed that he repeatedly spent funds without board approval and awarded contracts far beyond approved budgetary limits.
"These actions constitute grave breaches of financial governance and are further compounded by the fact that the chairman is currently under investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)," the petition said.
The board members claimed that the chairman has also presided over the award of hajj-related contracts in clear violation of the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) Act and due process, which undermine transparency, fairness, and value for money, and expose the commission to legal, financial and reputational risks.
"For example, contracts were signed under the chairman's leadership without the mandatory 'No Objection Certificate' from the Bureau of Public Procurement.
"There are serious allegations of corruption linked to oversight of hajj-related activities. These irregularities have created avoidable tension between Nigeria and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, particularly in matters of compliance, credibility and operational coordination. One of the implications of this strain was the initial reduction of Nigeria's quota of pilgrims from 95,000 in 2025 to 50,000 in 2026 hajj operations," the petition said.
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The board members added that the chairman's leadership style, marked by poor coordination, limited exposure, insufficient consultation and persistent disregard for due process, has gravely undermined effective workflow, strategic planning, and the delivery of statutory responsibilities.
They stated that after careful evaluation, "We hereby unanimously resolve that the chairman should not remain in office for even one additional day. Allowing him to continue in office gravely jeopardises the preparation, coordination and successful conduct of the upcoming Hajj operations, and further exposes Nigeria to operational and diplomatic risks."
