By SANI SHAFI?I MOHAMMED

The attention of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has been drawn to a publication alleging racketeering, nepotism, and procedural breaches in the selection of ad hoc staff for the 2025 Hajj operations.

The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria finds it imperative to set the record straight in the interest of clarification and public trust.

The ongoing selection process for the National Medical Team (NMT) is being coordinated by a Steering Committee whose principal officers are drawn from the professional field outside NAHCON. The Chairman/CEO, Professor Abdullahi Saleh Usman, inaugurated the Committee headed by the NAHCON Commissioner, Planning Research, Statistics, Information and Library Services (PRSILS), Professor Abubakar Yagawal. These seasoned medical professionals and NAHCON officials, are tasked with overseeing spooling and selection of applicants based on laid down criteria.

To be precise, out of the number of applications retrieved from the Medical Team Application portal, only 8452 were appropriately completed. All applicants were subjected to rigorous screening based on professional qualifications, past record of participation in the Medical Team which must not be within the last three years, willingness to participate on grounds of volunteerism, physical fitness, and availability for the Hajj period.

On staff deployment for the offshore operations, staff selection was based on a variety of factors including office attendance, role relevance, past performance, disciplinary record, and operational needs?not just seniority or years of service in the Commission.

A committee led by Director Admin was set up for the selection of Staff for this year?s operations as was the practice in the previous years. Members of the committee included representative from the Staff Union who painstakingly worked on the selection of operational staff under oath of impartiality and secrecy and necessary input from Heads of Units.

Any staff not on the list could either be as result of disciplinary actions, health issues, pregnancy as related to female staff, absenteeism or vote of no confidence by the staff?s supervising officer and also budgetary constraints.

For emphasis, all selections, whether relating to junior staff or management staff, went through a vetting process coordinated with departmental heads. However, in exceptional cases, competence and availability were prioritized in the overall interest of the operation.

On the issue of Advance Team travel timeline, NAHCON is on course. While some changes have been introduced to improve operational efficiency, the departure date of the advance team?May 5, four days ahead of the inaugural flight?is a strategic decision without fear of lateness.

The leadership of the Commission under Professor Abdullahi Saleh Usman is strengthening internal mechanisms to ensure that no staff is unfairly treated or wrongfully excluded. The welfare of staff and the successful coordination of the Hajj remain its top priorities.

In conclusion, NAHCON urges members of the public, stakeholders, and the media to seek clarification through official channels and resist the urge to amplify anonymous and unverified allegations that serve only to undermine the credibility of a national institution and cause unnecessary panic to the pilgrims.

The 2025 Hajj operation is on course, and NAHCON will not be distracted from its mandate to serve the Nigerian pilgrims with excellence, integrity, and fear of Allah.

?Shafi?i Sani Mohammed writes from NAHCON.

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