The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator Anyim Pius Anyim has commended the giant strides of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC) in the last five years. The SGF made the commendation recently in his office in Abuja while inaugurating the 8 man newly reconstituted Board of the Commission.
In the words of Senator Anyim, “I am glad to note that your Board has been able to stabilize the perennial difficulty in obtaining visas by pilgrims. Now visas are issued based on the list submitted by the Commission thereby eliminating the difficulty of each pilgrim having to go to the embassy for their visas”. The SGF further commended the Board for their efforts in tackling the embarrassing issues of abscondment of pilgrims in the Holy Land.
He further applauded the Board and management of the NCPC for the successful completion of the second edition of the Easter pilgrimage in April this year and the progress made so far towards a successful pilgrimage exercise in October this year.
Senator Anyim equally intimated the Board and Management of the NCPC that “the expectation of the Federal Government for the Commission is to attain a self funding status with minimal intervention from public fund”.
The SGF earlier recalled that the tenure of the previous board members expired on the 23rd June, 2013. According to him, “to ensure continuity and the smooth operation of the 2013 pilgrimage, His Excellency Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR, graciously approved the re-appointment of most of you, who just completed your first tenure”.
He urged the Board and Management of the NCPC to continue in that same spirit that enabled them to achieve the much they did during their last tenure.
In his remarks at the event, the Chairman of NCPC, Most Rev. Nicholas Okoh described their re-appointment for a second tenure as a great privilege and a big recognition by Mr. President to serve again.
He stressed that the Board would always ensure that pilgrimage would continue to be used as an instrument of spiritual transformation.
The Chairman promised that his Board would strive more than ever before under this new tenure to encourage more self sponsorship of pilgrims in line with the Federal Government’s position about pilgrimage which “is not a wholesome sponsorship”.
The re-appointment of the new Board of NCPC took effect from 24th June, 2013 for five years tenure. All the new members of Board were re-appointment except one who was replaced by Pastor Mike Abrakata to represent South South geo-political zone on the Boards.
Members of the newly reconstituted Board of NCPC include the Chairman, Most Rev. Nicholas Okoh, the Executive Secretary, Mr. John Kennedy Opara and six others.
Some Management staff of the Commission witnessed the inauguration ceremony which was held at the SGF Conference Room at Shehu Shagari Complex, Abuja.
