TheCable

The Independent Hajj Reporters (IHR), a civil society organisation, has called on President Bola Tinubu to appoint the remaining board members of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON).

In a statement on Thursday, Ibrahim Mohammed, national coordinator of the organisation, said representatives of some of the key agencies have not been appointed.

Mohammed said it is important to fill the positions to ensure smooth running of hajj operations as enshrined in the Establishment Act of the commission.

Tinubu approved the appointment of Jalal Arabi as chairman of NAHCON on October 17, 2023.

The president later appointed additional members of the commission and forwarded the list to the senate for confirmation.

“Section 3 of National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) Establishment Act 2006 under composition of leadership of the commission clearly states that “the commission shall consist of the – (a) a chairman, who shall be-, (i) the chief executive and accounting officer of the commission; (ii) responsible to the commission for the day-to-day management of the affairs of the commission,” the statement reads.

“Three full-time members and six part-time members representing each geo-political zone provided that two of whom shall be women;(c) a representative each of the ministry of- (i) aviation; (ii) foreign affairs; (iii) internal affairs (immigration); (iv) finance; (v) health; (d) a representative of the- (i) Central Bank of Nigeria; (ii) Jama’atul Nasril Islam; and (iii) Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs.

“Board members representing the ministries of aviation, health, finance and internal affairs (immigration), have all not been announced. Same goes for the representative of the Central Bank of Nigeria.

“These members often coordinate activities related to their establishments and some of them are very important and cannot be ignored.

“The structure of hajj preparations and operations requires NAHCON to function at full operational capacity as envisaged by the framers of NAHCON Establishment Act.

“For instance, the member representing ministry of health should have been at the forefront of the ongoing recruitment of medical personnel for hajj 2024.

“In the same vein, the representative of Nigerian Immigration Service should be helping secure passports for intending pilgrims, just as the representatives of CBN and aviation should have been helping with facilitating the needed foreign exchange and preparations of selected airlines.”