The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) is embroiled in controversy over allegations of racketeering and unscrupulous practices in its selection process for ad hoc staff members for the 2025 Hajj operation. This development comes on the heels of the inauguration of the principal officers of the National Medical Team (NMT) and its Steering Committee by NAHCON Chairman/CEO, Prof. Abdullahi Saleh-Usman. The committee is responsible for managing the selection, screening, and orientation of applicants for the national medical team, comprising doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and paramedics.
Despite NAHCON’s intention to recruit only 300 medical personnel, over 30,000 health professionals have applied through the medical team portal. Observers consider this number excessive for the 50,000 pilgrims registered for this year’s Hajj, with experts noting that Nigeria’s medical team will be larger than those from the 10 largest Hajj countries. A staff member expressed concern, stating, “It is pathetic. There is no criteria for picking the staff for 2025 Hajj as it used to be. It is clearly a case of extortion and crass nepotism.”
Furthermore, some NAHCON staff members are unhappy about the priority given to those recently posted to the commission from outside in the allocation of Hajj seats. “Many staff members who didn’t spend up to six months in NAHCON are now picked for the 2025 Hajj, leaving behind experienced staff,” one staff member said. The management has also blacklisted some workers, and contrary to established tradition, not all management staff are being considered this year, generating bad blood within the commission.
Junior staff members are being handpicked without consultation with their department heads, while level 14 or directorate cadre staff members are being left out. Traditionally, all management and level 14 officials are shortlisted for the operation unless they have pending disciplinary cases. However, workers facing disciplinary cases are being shortlisted against the standing rules, while others with no queries are being overlooked because they are not in favor with the chairman’s office.
In another development, the NAHCON advance team, which typically travels to Saudi Arabia 10 days before the inaugural flight, has yet to travel nine days before the commencement of the airlift. Insiders revealed that they are scheduled to travel on May 5, just four days before the inaugural flight, which is considered late. These allegations and irregularities have raised concerns about the transparency and fairness of the selection process for the 2025 Hajj operation.
