Reps Asks NAHCON To Suspend Hajj Savings Scheme, Directs Probe

The House of Representatives has urged the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) to suspend further implementation of the Hajj Savings Scheme pending the investigation of the scheme by its committee on Hajj affairs.

It also mandated the committee to review the agreement between NAHCON and Jaiz Bank Plc on the scheme to ensure transparency and accountability.

The resolutions followed the adoption of a motion by Rep Aminu Ashiru-Mani, which sought investigation and suspension of the savings scheme.

Ashiru-Mani in his motion noted that the Hajj Savings Scheme was established by Section 7 of the Hajj Commission Act to enable intending pilgrims to save towards fulfilling one of the pillars of Islam.

He said Jaiz Bank Plc and NAHCON had in September 2020 signed a savings scheme agreement to make it easier for intending pilgrims to gradually plan and save through a long-saving platform for people who intend to go for hajj.

He expressed concerns that NAHCON recently directed states pilgrims’ welfare boards, agencies and commissions to migrate Hajj deposits made by the intending pilgrims to the Hajj Savings Scheme platform with Jaiz Bank to come under the control and supervision of the commission.

The lawmaker said such a directive could give room for corruption and lack of accountability in the scheme, hence, the need to suspend the implementation of the scheme until an investigation has been carried out.