The board members of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, NAHCON have passed a vote of no confidence in the chairman of the commission, Prof. Abdullahi Saleh Usman over alleged financial impropriety, corruption and poor leadership, among others.
In a petition dated January 19, 2026, and addressed to President Bola Tinubu, the board members accused Usman of violating financial regulations, awarding contracts without due process, and causing diplomatic strain between Nigeria and Saudi Arabia, and therefore called for his immediate removal from office, so as to protect the commission’s integrity and reputation.
The petition was signed by Professor Abubakar A. Yagawal (Commissioner, Planning, Research, Statistics, Information and Library Services), Prince Anofiu Elegushi (Commissioner, Operations, Inspectorate and Licensing), Prince Aliu Abdulrazaq (Commissioner, Policy, Personnel, Management and Finance), Professor Muhammad Umaru Ndagi (North Central), Alhaji Abba Jato Kala (North East), Sheikh Muhammad Bin Uthman (North West), Dr Tajudeen Abefe Oladejo (South West), Hajia Aishat Obi Ahmed (South East), Hajia Zainab Musa (South South), Professor Musa Inuwa Fodio of Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI), and Professor Mahfouz A. Adedimeji of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA).
They said their “decision follows prolonged internal observations, repeated efforts at corrective engagements, and persistent leadership failures that have compromised the credibility, stability, and operational effectiveness and efficiency of the Commission.”
The board members also accused the chairman of financial indiscipline, alleging that he approved expenditures and executed contracts without board approval and beyond approved budgetary limits, in breach of public financial regulations.
“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),” they stated.
They further alleged violations of the Bureau of Public Procurement, BPP Act, claiming that Hajj-related contracts were awarded without due process, including the absence of mandatory “No Objection” certificates from the BPP.
According to the petition, such actions exposed the commission to legal, financial and reputational risks.
They linked the alleged corruption-related irregularities that created diplomatic strain between Nigeria and Saudi Arabia to an initial reduction of Nigeria’s Hajj quota from 95,000 pilgrims in 2025 to 50,000 for the 2026 Hajj.
They added that the chairman’s poor leadership has led to a breakdown of teamwork, weak internal governance, declining staff morale and operational dysfunction within NAHCON.
The board members further alleged disregard for due process, collective decision-making and public service hierarchy, as well as the dissemination of misleading information and the use of the media to allegedly blackmail officials.
They, therefore, unanimously resolved that the chairman should not remain in office, warning that his continued stay could jeopardise preparations for upcoming Hajj operations and expose Nigeria to further operational and diplomatic risks.
The board appealed to the President for urgent intervention, stressing its commitment to transparency, accountability and the welfare of Nigerian pilgrims.