Mr. Aliyu Abdulrazaq, Commissioner for Policy, Personnel, and Finance at the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), has defended the selection process for ad hoc staff for the 2025 Hajj operations, describing it as transparent and credible.
Abdulrazaq made this known in a statement issued in response to recent media reports alleging nepotism, ethnic bias, and irregularities in the recruitment process.
Some reports had claimed that the selection exercise was marred by racketeering and favoritism, with allegations that senior NAHCON officials, including Abdulrazaq, had unduly favoured candidates from the South-South region.
Dismissing the allegations as baseless, Abdulrazaq clarified that the South-South is minimally represented in NAHCON’s workforce.
“NAHCON’s total staff strength is 420, and fewer than 10 of these employees are from the South-South—representing less than one per cent of the commission’s entire personnel. There is a need for federal character balancing,” he stated.
The commissioner noted that the allegations surfaced shortly after the NAHCON Chairman, Prof. Abdullahi Usman, inaugurated the Principal Officers of the National Medical Team (NMT) and its Steering Committee for the 2025 Hajj.
He emphasized that the selection process for the ad hoc roles was carried out with integrity and fairness, adding, “This is one of the most transparent processes NAHCON has ever undertaken.”
Abdulrazaq reiterated the commission’s commitment to merit, due process, and inclusivity in all aspects of its operations.
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