Independent Hajj Reporters warns state Amirul Hajj teams not to usurp the powers of statutory officials during the 2024 hajj operations.
It said this call became necessary owing to past experiences in which some state Amirul Hajj teams, who are supposed to be adhoc committees formed to offer support to appointed officials and pilgrims often assume powers and responsibilities beyond their scope which leads to chaos and negatively affect operations during hajj exercise.
The CSO says there should be a clear term of reference for the Amirul Hajj teams and such schedules should not involve operational issues to avoid conflicts.
In a statement Monday by its national coordinator Ibrahim Mohammed, the group said Amirul Hajj teams are sometimes led by respected traditional rulers, or members of the Ulama with wide following and high regards and they are expected to simply support Hajj officials carry out their responsibilities diligently while also offering advice and guidance to pilgrims on what is expected of them.
“From experience, we know for a fact that once appointed, some state Amirul Hajj Teams try to Lord it over Hajj officials, especially while in Saudi Arabia, and any resistance to that effect by these officials often leads to unnecessary crises. State officials are often forced to satisfy the needs of Amirul Hajj teams because they wield influence that can lead to their removal from office. Valuable time is therefore dedicated to managing the crisis instead of fixing the onerous task of serving pilgrims.
“While we appreciate the role of leadership and guidance of the Amirul teams, there are instances when the Amirul Hajj teams usurped the critical operational responsibilities of state Muslim pilgrims’ welfare board officials, especially in the areas of airlift schedule and the allocation of accommodation to pilgrims. We have seen cases where some high profile and politically connected Amirul Hajj team members will be requesting for VIP services.
“While we have no problem with Amirul Hajj Teams, we urge that these teams should not go to Saudi Arabia and constitute themselves as an unnecessary obstacle to the smooth running of Hajj operations,” the CSO said.
