By Fatima Muhammad —
Governor Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State has been urged to investigate the conduct of State Pilgrims Welfare Board officials during the 2024 Hajj pilgrimage.
A Non-Governmental Organisation, Concerned Hajj Monitoring Group, CHMJ, made the call in press release signed on Friday by its chairman, Dan-Asabe Muhammad.
The NGO said the need for the investigation stemmed from its desire to see that the board is rid of corrupt officials who have allegedly held sway for a long time in the state agency.
The statement said,, “it has become imperative for the Plateau State Government under the leadership of the dynamic governor, H.E Barr. Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang, to beam its searchlight to the state pilgrims board because of the massive corruption bedevilling it before, during and even after the 2024 Hajj operations.
“We want a tough stand to be taken on cases of lethargic employees, inordinate delays and prevalent corruption especially that the new administration of Barr. Caleb Mutfwang is preaching honesty, decency, incorruptibility and righteousness in governance.
“We want to urge His Excellency to maintain the zero tolerance of his administration on corruption and not to let corruption have a free run in the board,” the group noted.
The Hajj group said of particular interest, the government should check the distribution of more than 200 slots allocated for the Muslim faithful in the 2024 Hajj where a lot of the slots were sold to the highest bidder, thereby defeating the aim for which it was meant.
“The most unfortunate and most disturbing part of it is that the racketeering of these government slots was with the active connivance of some staff of the board.
“We, therefore, urge the State Government under the able leadership of our dynamic and focus Governor, Barr. Mutfwang, to leave no stone unturned in unearthing the high level corruption and short-changing of government gesture to the teeming public,” the group said.
“It is also shocking, embarrassing and ridiculous to hear that a senior staff of the board was involved in drug peddling in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
“This act tarnishes the image of our country Nigeria and the good citizens of Plateau State, and from all indications, there is a conspiracy of silence from the boards management. We, therefore, call for full investigation,” the group added.
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