Corruption In Plateau Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, Mutfwang Orders Refund Of 2023 Hajj Paid N155 Million, Acquires N2 Billion For 2024 Intending Hajj

Yakubu Busari

The Executive Governor of Plateau State ,Barr. Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang has uncovered a high level of corruption in the Muslim Pilgrims Welfare’s Board and orders for refunding of the sum of N155,000,000.00 2023 Hajj funds belonging to 150 people whose payment was declared missing during the Governor Simon Lalong and equally obtained a fresh N2 billion loan to meet up the last day of remittance order from the National Hajj Commission.

Mutfwang was dissatisfied with the fact that Plateau State’s intending Hajj didn’t meet the dateline of 19th February 2024 by the National Hajj Commission stipulated dateline in Abuja.

The Executive Secretary of the Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, Alh.Dr Daiyabu Dauda made this disclosure during a courtesy call at the Secretariat opposite, ECWA headquarters, Jos.

Dauda disclosed that Governor Caleb’s visionary leadership style considered the plight of 2023 intending Hajj members who couldn’t travel due to the fact their money was diverted and declared missing from the Hajj account and as a listening governor he ordered their money to be refunded back to each of them that suffered the injustice.

He appreciated the Radio Television Theatre Arts Workers Union of Nigeria (RATTAWU), Plateau State Chapter led by Comrade Emmanuel Dolnaan leading the delegation to the board headquarters to congratulate him on his new appointment.

Dauda urged the media practitioners to partner with the board on balance reportage in terms of the numerous activities undertaken to project them in good light.

According to him,” we are always desirous to partner with you people because whatever we are doing here if we didn’t to our courtesy of you people then nobody would know what we are doing here.

“You are always welcome here to this office and always invite you to come and partner with us for our activities so that the world should know it.  As a council, we have most of your colleagues here in the same office and some from NTA and PRTVC as we are always working together and we learn to achieve positive impact, he said.

According to Dauda , his office is wide open for media interaction which we soon invite you so I use this opportunity to inform you that we are planning a world press conference to educate and enlighten the general populace about the Governor’s support.

Alh.Daiyabu admonished that since his appointment by Governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang on the 13th of October, 2023 the leader of the land is green and time is now has helped the board in so many ways.

On my assumption of office, we had so many challenges, but we thank him for his intervention because in 2023, those who went for Hajj didn’t go and their money was not in the account of the board, he explains.

However, he stated that with the intervention of the governor, those people have been paid to the tune of N155 million naira and we have set up a committee to pay them all their money.

Daiyabu Dauda stressed that yesterday, 19th February 2024 the National Hajj Commission has closed remittance for collection of the money from the states based on the directive from the Saudi Arabian government.

He reiterated that so many states have not exhausted their slots, but we thank God for the intervention of the governor, he has asked us to collect a loan from the Bank about a billion and we have paid it and today about 1,345 seats giving to the state is being secured, so we thank him for the wonderful assistance.

We will find time and call for a press briefing to tell the world what our governor is doing.

We will fix a date and invite you to cover it and tell the world what the governor has been doing.

The RATTAWU Chairman Emmanuel said they were in the executive secretary’s office to congratulate him and complement the effort of his good gesture in accommodating all manner of people.

He described the Executive Secretary, Daiyabu Dauda as a committed leader and a man of integrity full of mission and vision to promote peaceful coexistence amongst the ethnic and religious groups.

“My encounters with you sir, since when I was covering the state assembly and I know you to be an open person anytime we place a call to you your answer is am ready.

As Media practitioners who like to partner with you and collaborate with you to promote the affairs of the board our doors are open for partnership towards achieving meaningful development, he noted.