The House of Representatives voted to inaugurate a special investigative committee to look into the National Hajj Commission’s management of the 2024 pilgrimage.
During the plenary session on Tuesday, Rep. Mohammed Bio, the representative for the Baruten/Kaiama Federal Constituency in Kwara State, introduced a motion that led to the decision.
They condemned the poor performance of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board in the 2024 Hajj exercise.
The house also established an ad hoc committee to investigate the activities of NAHCON, the FCTA Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, their agents, and sub-agents during the 2024 Hajj exercise.
Following the establishment of the ad hoc committee, the Speaker of the House, Rep. Tajudeen Abbas, appointed Rep. Sada Soli, the representative of Jibia/Kaita Federal Constituency in Katsina State, as the chairman of the committee tasked with investigating the 2024 Hajj exercise.
The motion, dubbed ‘Urgent need to investigate the National Hajj Commission and the Federal Capital Territory Administration Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, their agents, and sub-agents over the subpar arrangements and mistreatment of Nigerian pilgrims during the 2024 Hajj exercise’, was brought to the house of representatives as a matter of utmost urgency and public concern.
Bio stressed the importance of the Hajj pilgrimage as a sacred obligation and a fundamental pillar of Islam.
He expressed disappointment that many of the over 50,865 Muslim pilgrims under NAHCON’s care in 2024 received inadequate support, organization, guidance, and supervision, falling short of the expected standards.
He added that despite: “The huge amount paid by the pilgrims for the 2024 Hajj exercise, NAHCON’s 2024 budget allocation, intervention from the Federal Government to the tune of N90 billion, and support from the Government of Saudi Arabia, NAHCON and the FCTA Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board performed below performance in the 2024 Hajj exercise, especially in Makkah and Mina is unexpected.”
The lawmaker warned that: “If this poor performance of NAHCON is not investigated with a view to improve future performance, further Hajj exercise for Nigerian citizens may be more complicated and put the entire country in a bad light in the committee of nations.”
The Green Chamber has given the committee a two-week deadline to submit its findings and recommendations for further consideration and potential legislative action.
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