Alleged vote of no confidence on NAHCON chairman: Civil society coalition calls for resignation of NAHCON Board members

An agglomeration of civil society organisations, civil, gender and human rights groups, professional associations, workers unions and student partisans under the aegis of the Citizens United to Save Humanity (CUSH) has called for the resignation of Board members of National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), who allegedly passed a vote of no confidence on the NAHCON Chairman, Prof Saleh Pakistan warning that the dispute could undermine public trust, disrupt Hajj preparations and damage Nigeria’s international standing in the global comity of nations.

In a communique issued to newsmen and signed by its spokesman, Comrade Jude Odumodu the CUSH stated that it was compelled to speak out as a group committed to accountability, legality and stability in public establishments of the nation.

The coalition said it had carefully weighed the ongoing crisis within NAHCON and expressed deep concern at the conduct of certain Board members, which it said poses a dire obstacle to the seamless management of the nation’s Hajj operations.

“Our position is clear,” the statement said. “Board members who are subjects of ongoing cases with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have no moral authority to pass judgment over the management of the Commission.”
According to the coalition, those facing corruption cases cannot credibly claim oversight authority, cautioning that those who come to equity must come with clean hands.

The CUSH faulted what it described as a pattern of insinuations, allegations and public accusations by some Board members, noting that such claims were not backed by any concrete evidence as required by law.

“Where misconduct is alleged, the law demands specifics — dates, transactions, contract references and audit queries,” the statement said, adding that none of these had been presented. It warned that the absence of concrete evidence weakens the allegations and reflects a disregard for due process.

The group further revealed what it described as established operational facts within NAHCON, requiring that all financial payments must be signed by the Commissioner for Planning, Research, Statistics, Information and Library Services (PPMF), the Accounts Department and Internal Audit.
It also noted that procurement decisions are committee-based, properly documented and subject to statutory review.

The CUSH alleged that some of the cases being referenced with the EFCC occurred before Prof Saleh Pakistan took office and involved those same Commissioners who are now acting as ‘saints’ despite their pending corruption cases.
‘The Board members have no statutory power under the NAHCON Act to pass or communicate a vote of no confidence on the NAHCON Chairman.
Beyond the allegations, the coalition expressed deeper concern over what it described as ongoing sabotage within the Commission including unauthorized postings, issuance of official correspondence without executive approval, open defiance of lawful directives and attempts by Board members to illegally assume operational roles not backed by statutes .

“This conduct amounts to insubordination and institutional vandalism,” the statement declared.
CUSH therefore called for the immediate resignation of all Board members with pending EFCC cases, insisting that those who lack integrity cannot be credibly carry out oversight functions.

The coalition called for the resignation of Board members who spuriously passed an illegal vote of no confidence beyond their statutory powers.

“If they sincerely believe in due process , they must submit themselves to it,” CUSH stated.
The coalition emphasised that Nigeria’s Hajj management is a national obligation that goes beyond personal ambition or power struggles, noting that it involves humanity, diplomatic ties and global relations.

“NAHCON needs to be stable and durable. The law must take its course. Those with tainted conduct should go,” CUSH stated cautioning that anything short of this would suggest that the crisis is geared towards aggregation of power and not by a desire for transparency, accountability and due process.

The CUSH further appealed to the Presidency and other relevant authorities to ‘intervene authoritatively in the national interest to restore peace, stability, coherence, and confidence in NAHCON and its operations and activities both within and outside our shores’ – the CUSH communique concluded