By AHMAD MUAZU

At first glance, it looks like trouble, with the clickbait headlines indicating that: The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) just listed the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) among 15 agencies it classifies as a ?high corruption risk.? But before you assume the worst, let?s dig into what that label really means and why NAHCON might not be the party of interest in the misguided story.

The ICPC?s tool, called the Ethics and Integrity Compliance Scorecard (ECIS), assesses more than 300 government agencies on three big indicators:

Management culture, financial systems, and administrative processes.

While NAHCON ended up in the ?non-responsive? group, the ICPC insists this assessment isn?t about calling anyone corrupt, rather, it?s an alert meant to help institutions shore up weak spots.

So, why is NAHCON in the spotlight? Turns out it?s more about non intentional wrongdoing of not submitting the ECIS assessment and more about procedural challenges. In the same report for year 2023 NAHCON ranked 147 out of 404 tested by ICPC one might wonder how the sudden fall.

Running the logistics of one of the world?s largest religious gatherings, the annual Hajj can be notoriously complex. Thrown into three leadership changes in the span of a year, three months and ongoing investigations by bodies like the EFCC, ICPC, and the House of Representatives, this got NAHCON juggling a lot at once. Those upheavals alone could cause delays or incomplete submissions, which is likely why NAHCON got flagged.

But let?s be clear: a ?high corruption risk? tag doesn?t equal a conviction or even a charge. It means NAHCON has to tighten up its ECIS compliance efforts. The Chairman/CEO Abdullahi Saleh has already laid out policies demanding adherence to financial rules and established standards. If the only thing that put NAHCON on this ICPC list was late paperwork, maybe it?s time for the ICPC to tweak its checklist to focus more on agencies where proven misappropriations, convictions or recoveries have actually occurred.

Moreover, the call for the ICPC to monitor Tour Operators and State Boards refunds to pilgrims has actually strengthened NAHCON?s case. By insisting on that transparency, the commission is showing it won?t tolerate questionable financial practices. Rather than confirming corruption, it suggests NAHCON?s leadership is determined to address potential vulnerabilities head-on.

Bottom line is: Do not mistake a diagnostic red flag for an ironclad verdict. NAHCON?s classification as ?high corruption risk? is more about shining a light on procedural wrinkles than confirming any ethical lapses. In a world where media headlines often grab attention for clicks, it?s worth taking a closer look at the fine print before assuming the worst.

?Ahmad Muazu is of Public Affairs Division, NAHCON.

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