Plateau pilgrims board, precedence for honesty
It is no longer a news that, several Hajj tickets which cost no less than 1.2 million naira, are been distributed every year for political patronage or out-rightly sold to un-intending pilgrims at the detriment of genuine intending pilgrims. These tickets are usually sold out in the black–market at exorbitant cost to genuine potential pilgrims […]
It is no longer a news that, several Hajj tickets which cost no less than 1.2 million naira, are been distributed every year for political patronage or out-rightly sold to un-intending pilgrims at the detriment of genuine intending pilgrims. These tickets are usually sold out in the black–market at exorbitant cost to genuine potential pilgrims by those who are beneficiaries of the scam.
The issue at hand today, is the exemplary and uncommon conduct of Barrister Auwal Abdullahi, there is no doubt his stewardship as the helmsman of the Board is worthy of emulation as well as a clarion call to the federal government and states to ensure proper accountability and transparency in the activities of government intervention in subsequent Hajj operations in order to check mate plundering of public funds that can be utilized to improve the economic social wellbeing of the great majority.
When Governor Simon B. Lalong appointed Barr. Auwal Abdullahi as the executive secretary of the Plateau State Muslim Pilgrims Board, many out there were skeptical concerning his ability to deliver, perhaps out of political greed.
The 2018 Hajj operations would be the first-time unspent money meant for the welfare of the pilgrims was been remitted to the state’s coffers; worthy of mention was the fact that Barr. Auwal Abdullahi remitted 85-million-naira unspent money to the government of Plateau State. Also, it was for the first time 25 un-utilized tickets were returned to the state government which hitherto would have ended in private pockets. These staggering figures amounting to over 100 million naira could have easily and secretly been shared by the board members, but Barr. Auwal Abdullahi said “tufia-kwa” “over my dead body this is public money and it must be returned to the governor” and he did. Similarly, for the first time all the staff of the board who directly or indirectly participated for the success of the 2018, Hajj operations were financially rewarded. At the completion of the 2018, Hajj operations, the executive secretary of the board, Barr. Auwal Abdullahi ordered the release of all entitlements and allowances to the staff of the board, while others received above five hundred thousand naira (N500,000.00) others received up to a million and above, the staff were highly surprised and elated which impelled them to express their gratitude to the executive secretary, but instead, this unusual (E.S) young man, informed them that; there was no reason to thank him, because the monies was their entitlement which was been diverted by successive administrators of the board.
Barr. Mall. Auwal Abdullahi should be a role model to other people in position of trust.
Mohammed Isa Bilal
No. 8 Shendam Street Jos. 08167989085