Muktamar Accepts PBNU Accountability Report, Gus Yahya Apologises
Participants of the 35th Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) Congress accepted the accountability report of the Nahdlatul Ulama Central Board (PBNU) for the 2021-2026 period, delivered by PBNU Chairman KH Yahya Cholil Staquf, known as Gus Yahya. The report was presented during Plenary Session II of the 35th NU Congress at Bahrul Ulum Tambakberas Islamic Boarding School in Jombang, East Java, on Friday (28/8/2026). The session discussed the presentation of the PBNU accountability report, general views, and specific views regarding the current PBNU leadership.
In his report, Gus Yahya stated that during one leadership period, PBNU focused on building five foundations for the transformation of the organisation. These five foundations include systems, institutional development, human resources, governance, and the service ecosystem. According to Gus Yahya, these five foundations were prioritised as part of PBNU’s strategy in facing various organisational challenges.
“Why did we choose to work on this? Because within the landscape of strategic choices, there are certainly various options. Why did we choose one thing and not another? This certainly requires explanation,” said Gus Yahya.
He emphasised that the accountability report was not presented to show that all of PBNU’s work had been completed. Likewise, the report was not intended to claim that all decisions taken during the leadership period were perfect. “What has been successfully built, what still needs to be perfected, and the direction we believe is important for the future journey of Nahdlatul Ulama,” he said.
Gus Yahya stated that the accountability report represents the willingness of the leadership to honestly convey the condition of the organisation to the Congress participants. “We do not pretend, nor do we intend to state to the Congress participants that all work has been completed, that the work is finished. That is not our intention or our purpose in this accountability report,” he said.
“We also do not claim that all decisions made were entirely correct, or entirely appropriate, or always appropriate,” explained Gus Yahya.
According to him, the accountability report is not a report to demonstrate perfection, but rather to describe what PBNU has done and how that work relates to the dynamics of society. “Because we consider that an accountability report is not to show perfection. An accountability report is the willingness to honestly report what is, and to link what has been done to the dynamics of society,” he said.
During the occasion, Gus Yahya also conveyed a number of agendas considered important for the future journey of NU. At least three main agendas were highlighted: organisational transformation, political repositioning, and activation of NU’s international role. Gus Yahya emphasised that these three agendas cannot be viewed as standalone tasks. “These three agendas are not three separate tasks. They are interconnected,” he said.
After Gus Yahya presented the accountability report, the session chair gave the opportunity to representatives of Congress participants from several regions to deliver their general views.