A controversy has emerged at the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) amid allegations that the Commissioner in charge of Operations, Alhaji Anofi Elegushi, has continued to retain two individuals who are no longer legally attached to the commission, despite directives stopping such practices.
Sources within NAHCON told clockwisereports that Mr. Elegushi allegedly retained a retired officer identified as Mr. Gaffar, who officially exited the service in 2023.
The retired official is said to still have access to core operational activities and enjoys privileges ordinarily reserved for serving personnel.
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“He has no official designation but he attends meetings, travels with the Commissioner, and still maintains physical offices both in Abuja and Saudi Arabia,” a senior staff member alleged, describing the development as a breach of Public Service Rules.
The situation has also raised concerns within the commission following claims that a female ex-youth corps member, believed to be related to the commissioner, remains attached to the operations unit long after completing her NYSC programme. Insiders said the slot she occupies is ordinarily assigned to incoming corps members.
VP’s Memo Rejected Retention of Retirees
The controversy intensified after documents surfaced indicating that Vice-President Kashim Shettima had previously rejected NAHCON’s request to employ retired officers on contract. In the memo referenced as: “Re: Request for Special Waiver to Appoint Three Retired Officers on Contract,” the Vice-President directed the commission to reverse such engagements and undertake a proper review of personnel capacity.
Despite the directive, insiders claim the commissioner continued to keep both the retired officer and the ex-corper within the system, allegedly without formal approval.
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Union and Staff Quiet Amid Fear
Although workers have reportedly queried similar issues in the past, staff members now say the matter remains largely unchallenged due to fear of reprisals.
“The Commissioner is seen as highly influential, and those who should enforce regulations have decided to look away,” one source said.
The development has also triggered speculations about internal power realignments. Some senior workers allege that Mr. Elegushi has recently influenced strategic redeployments as part of efforts to strengthen his control within the organisation and position himself ahead of future leadership changes.
One such move, according to insiders, is the recent redeployment of Halidu Shutti as Director of Human Resources—a decision some staff believe is tied to a broader strategy aimed at restructuring internal roles.