Niger State Pilgrims Officers Lacks Commitment – Commissioner

In a bid to enthrone culture of hard work and commitment to duty, Niger State Government has issued a new criterion for the appointment of Area pilgrims officers known as(APO) across the 25 local Government areas in the State towards preparation for the 2019 Hajj activities.

The new arrangement according to the Commissioner for Local Government of Niger state, Alhaji Ibrahim Balarabe during the post exco press briefing on Tuesday in Minna, was aimed at checking the activities of area Pilgrim officers.

“He said reports reaching the ministry indicate that Area Pilgrim Officers attached to intending pilgrims to the Holy Land are not from the local government areas they are assigned to and therefore do not show commitment to their duties, even as he accused them of absconding from their posts when their services are mostly needed”.

“He also claimed that most of them do not have basic Islamic knowledge on how to guide the pilgrims on the expected rituals and other activities during the Hajj exercise.”

Alhaji Balarabe said henceforth appointment for the position of an area pilgrim officer would be based on basic Islamic knowledge, residency in the particular local Government, adding that prospective APO must be also be an employee of the local government he’s to lead intending pilgrims during Hajj operations.

By Abdul Muhammed Isa