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Professor Abdullahi Saleh Usman has resigned as Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), following mounting pressure from within the commission and intervention by the Presidency.
Multiple sources familiar with developments at NAHCON said the resignation came after the commission’s governing board formally petitioned President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, accusing the chairman of serious administrative and financial misconduct.
According to an insider, the petition left the Presidency with little room to manoeuvre.
“The issues raised were weighty and could no longer be ignored. The decision was taken in the interest of the commission’s credibility,” the source said.
The board’s action was anchored on a document titled Vote of No Confidence in the Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, dated January 19, 2026, and jointly signed by all 11 board members.
In the petition, the board cited what it described as persistent leadership failures, arguing that internal controls had weakened under Usman’s watch.
It noted that several attempts to address the concerns internally failed, prompting the escalation to the Presidency.
Board members accused the former chairman of financial recklessness, including approving expenditures and awarding contracts without statutory board clearance and beyond approved budget limits.
“These patterns eroded trust within the commission and exposed NAHCON to avoidable institutional risk,” one board member was quoted as saying.
The petition also referenced an ongoing investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), describing it as an aggravating factor that further undermined confidence in Usman’s leadership.
Beyond financial allegations, the board claimed that Hajj-related contracts were awarded in breach of the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) Act, a move it said compromised transparency and value for public funds.
“This was not just about procedure; it was about safeguarding the integrity of Nigeria’s Hajj operations,” another source close to the board said.
Before his exit, Usman’s last public assignment was hosting Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Dr Tawfiq Al-Rabiah, during an official engagement last week.
Meanwhile, Presidency sources indicated that an announcement on Usman’s replacement is expected soon, as authorities move to stabilise the commission ahead of upcoming Hajj preparations.