By GARBA MUHAMMAD

Chairman/CEO of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Malam Jalal Ahmed Arabi, has expressed his concern over the suspension of certain allowances of staff for the ongoing 2024 Hajj operations.

He said despite this challenging situation, the Commission remains hopeful that as conditions improve, staff allowances may be reassessed even if it were a minimal increase.

He said the financial downturn that impacted many aspects of the 2024 Hajj operations did not leave out the payment of NAHCON staff stipend for the Hajj operations.

He said the commission regretted the situation knowing how exerting Hajj operations are to staff and their families.

The chairman, communicated the situation to staff on offshore assignment via zoom meeting where he explained the tight situation that the commission finds itself and sought their understanding.

The outcome of the meeting was made known via a statement by Fatima Sanda Usara Assistant Director, Public Affairs, on Friday, May 31, 2024.

Arabi also explained that due to these financial constraints, certain allowances peculiar to the commission staff will remain suspended for the time being.

According to him, it was same condition that led NAHCON to request for medical volunteerism by National Medical Team members.

The chairman acknowledged the dedication and commitment of his staff and expressed gratitude for their understanding during this challenging period.

He also reassured all stakeholders of the commission’s continued efforts to navigate these financial challenges while prioritizing the well-being of its personnel and the success of the Hajj.

“However, this time around, staff will be given the option of returning to Nigeria after putting 21 days of service if they opt to return.

“Similarly, allowances of all operational Committee members remain affected due to budgetary limitations. For the same factor, not all staff members were deployed for the offshore assignment.

“Normally, staff deployment for the offshore operations is staggered due to nature of the task they are expected to perform.

“While the Commission would have preferred to travel with all its staff to facilitate the easier coordination, the current financial circumstances necessitated difficult decisions to ensure the viability of the operations”, he added.

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