PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari, in a move that seems to break with tradition, has nominated Zikrullah Olakunle Hassan as the chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON).
If confirmed by the Senate, Hassan, from Osun State, will be the first southerner to head the commission since it was set up 13 years ago by former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo.
The position had been thought to be permanently zoned to the North.
The first chairman was Muhammed Musa Bello from Adamawa State who was inaugurated in May 2007 for a term of four years.
In 2011, former President Goodluck Jonathan reappointed him for a second term, which expired in 2015 — after which Bello was appointed Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) by President Buhari.
Abdullahi Mukhtar Mohammed from Kaduna State has been acting as chairman since 2015.
According to The Cable, an online newspaper, Hassan’s name was sent to the Senate on Tuesday alongside those of other executive commissioners.
The executive commissioners-designate are Abdullahi Magaji Hardawa (operation, inspection and licensing) from Bauchi State (North-East); Nura Hassan Yakasai (policy, personnel management and finance), Kano State (North-West); and Sheikh Momoh Suleman Imonikhe (planning, research, statistics information and library), Edo State (South-South).
Part-time members are Halimat Jibril (Niger State), Abbas Jato (Borno State), Garba Umar (Sokoto State), Ibrahim Ogbonnah Amah (Ebonyi State), Sadiq Oniyesaneyene Musa (Delta State) and Akintunde Basirat Olayinka (Ogun State).
Representatives of ministries, departments and agencies are Shehu Dogo (aviation), Nura Abba Rimi (foreign affairs), Rabi Bello Isa (finance, budget and national planning), Zainab Ujudud Sheriff (health), Aminu Bako Yarima (Nigeria Immigration Service) and Ibrahim Ishaq Nuhu (Central Bank of Nigeria).
Hassan had served as amir-al-hajj (leader of pilgrims) of the Osun State Pilgrims’ Welfare Board in the past.
and then