Hajj Commission to spend N1.5bn in 2018
The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), on Wednesday appeared before the Senate Committee on Federal Character and Inter Govermental Affairs to defend its 2018 annual budget.
Muslim pilgrims perform the final walk (Tawaf al-Wadaa) around the Kaaba at the Grand Mosque in the Saudi holy city of Mecca on November 30, 2009. The annual Muslim hajj pilgrimage to Mecca wound up without the feared mass outbreak of swine flu, Saudi authorities said, reporting a total of five deaths and 73 proven cases. AFP PHOTO/MAHMUD HAMS (Photo credit should read MAHMUD HAMS/AFP/Getty Images)
The Chief Information officer of NAHCON, Malam Adamu Abdullahi made this known in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.
Abdullahi explained that the budget estimate of ₦1.559.818.216 billion was made up of both recurrent and capital expenditure for the 2018 fiscal year.
He said that the Executive Chairman of NAHCON, Alhaji Abdullahi Muhammad, while defending the budget, said the expenditure would take care of the salaries of staff as well as renovation and furnishing of the Commission’s newly acquired Corporate Headquarters.
The NAHCON boss disclosed that the bulk of the fund for the purchase of the property was sourced through the internally generated revenue derived from service charge levied by the commission on service providers rather than the pilgrims.
Responding, member of the committee, Sen. Joshua Ladani, representing, Gombe South Senatorial District, commended the commission for its foresight and ingenuity in the acquisition of the Metro Plaza edifice. Ladani said that the feat was not only good but a testimonial of the commission’s commitment to achieving the the Federal Government objective of self – reliance for the Ministries, Department and Parastatals