NAHCON Chairman Abdullahi Saleh resigns amid board petition

The Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Professor Abdullahi Saleh Usman, has resigned from office following a petition submitted against him to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu by members of the commission’s board.

A senior staff member of the commission, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed that the resignation was compelled by the presidency after the petition alleged abuse of office and other acts of misconduct.

“Yes, he was forced to resign by the presidency following the petition against him. The commission has faced several controversies since his appointment, and a replacement will be announced soon,” the source said.

According to Daily Trust, Usman’s last official engagement took place last week when he received Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Dr Tawfiq Al-Rabiah, during an official visit.

The petition, dated January 19, 2026, and titled Vote of No Confidence in the Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Prof. Abdullahi Saleh Usman, was signed by all 11 members of the board.

In the document, the board stated that its decision followed prolonged internal assessments and repeated attempts at corrective engagement, which it said failed to address what it described as persistent leadership shortcomings.

The board alleged that these failures had adversely affected the credibility, stability and operational effectiveness of the commission.

Among the allegations contained in the petition were claims of financial indiscipline, lack of transparency, and repeated approval of expenditures and contract awards without board consent, in excess of approved budgetary limits.

“These actions constitute grave breaches of financial governance and accountability,” the petition stated, adding that the situation was aggravated by the fact that the chairman was reportedly under investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The board also accused Usman of awarding Hajj-related contracts in violation of the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) Act and established due process, warning that such actions exposed the commission to legal, financial and reputational risks.

As of the time of filing this report, neither NAHCON nor the presidency had issued an official statement on the resignation.