2024 Hajj:” We’re expected to work for 40 days in Saudi Arabia with allowance payment of 21 days- NAHCON staff lament

By Mustapha Mustapha On May 31, 2024

Hajj, NAHCON, pilgrims, Saudi Arabia, Jalal Arabi — NAHCON Chairman, Malam Jalal Ahmad Arabi

National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) staff deployed to Saudi Arabia for the 2024 Hajj exercise are presently complaining of poor welfare and intimidation by the authorities if any of the personnel should open up about their situation.

SolaceBase gathered that the commission with about 410 staff deployed 284 personnel to the Holy Land without any allowance which is not the usual practice.

‘’We have been in Saudi Arabia for almost three weeks without any upkeep allowance from the commission which is unusual but you dare not complain with the system we have in play now, if you don’t want to be in trouble, some NAHCON staff told SolaceBase correspondent in Saudi Arabia.

‘’It was not easy for most of us coming here without looking for money to settle our families at home as many of us had to go borrowing to do that.’’

According to the NAHCON staff, those deployed to the holy land for the 2024 Hajj exercise have been told that they would work for 40 days there about but allowances would be paid for only 21 days.

Along with this , they told SolaceBase that the telephone and transport allowances accorded personnel have been suspended as the commission told them that its budget cannot take care of such expenses.

‘’Despite the low budget allocation the commission is telling us, stakeholders that the commission normally allots free Hajj seats for this year is about 1,200.’’

‘’Incidentally, some of the sharp practices in the commission at the expense of staff welfare has led to invitation and detention of some top management staff by the EFCC, ‘’the personnel allegedly told SolaceBase.

‘’The situation is not like before whenever there is a complaint about our welfare or any other issue the commission would quickly address such, but since the coming of the new Chairman, Malam Jalal Ahmad Arabi, he adopted the measure of using his aides to spy on us and you dare not complain, you will be reported and you know the consequences, they alleged.

SolaceBase contacted NAHCON, Assistant Director, Public Affairs, Fatima Sanda Usara, on Thursday who confirmed the suspension of the deployed staff transportation and telephone allowances while they are in Saudia Arabia.

Usara said this is due to the economic challenges noting that the staff have been informed about the situation prior to this moment.

Similarly, she said the payment of allowances of 21 days to staff who are expected to work for 40 days in Saudi Arabia has been clarified.

‘’Yes they have been informed that after the expiration of the 21 days allowance however cannot cope can return to Nigeria, Usara told SolaceBase.

However, she never said if such staff would not be victimised or intimidated, if they decide to return home after the 21 days without the completion of the Hajj exercise.

Speaking on the allegation of free Hajj seat of 1,200 tagged stakeholders, the commission’s Head of Public Affairs said the stakeholders include Islamic Clerics, Medical personnel and the Media among others.

SolaceBase gathered that after the close of registration, the official number of intending pilgrims who registered for the 2024 Hajj from Nigeria stands at 51,447.