The Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Professor Abdullahi Saleh Usman, has resigned from his position following mounting allegations of misconduct and financial irregularities.
A staff member of the commission disclosed that the resignation came after the NAHCON board submitted a petition to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu seeking his removal.
“Yes, he was forced to resign by the presidency following the petition against him. The commission has faced several controversies since his appointment. The presidency will announce a replacement soon,” the source said.
According to a report in Daily Trust, the chairman’s last official engagement was last week when he received Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Dr. Tawfiq Al-Rabiah.
The petition titled “Vote of No Confidence in the Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Prof. Abdullahi Saleh Usman”— was dated January 19, 2026, and signed by all eleven board members.
The board stated that its decision followed prolonged internal observations and repeated efforts at corrective engagement, noting that persistent leadership failures had compromised the credibility, stability and operational effectiveness of the commission.
The petition accused the chairman of financial indiscipline, lack of transparency and repeated expenditure of funds as well as the award of contracts without board approval and beyond budgetary limits.
“These actions constitute grave breaches of financial governance and are compounded by the fact that the chairman is currently under investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC),” the petition stated.
The board further alleged that several Hajj-related contracts were awarded in violation of the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) Act and due process, undermining transparency, fairness and value for money while exposing the commission to legal, financial and reputational risks.
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