NAN-H-70
Accommodation
By Mohammed Baba Busu
Lafia, Nov. 21, 2016 (NAN) The Nasarawa State Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board has appealed to the government to provide the board with corporate befitting office accommodation to discharge its duties effectively.
Mr Clement Odeh, the Executive Secretary of the board, made the appeal on Monday when the state House of Assembly Committee on Pilgrims Matters paid an oversight visit to the board in Lafia.
Odeh said the board had no permanent office accommodation since the creation of the state in 1996, adding that provision of befitting office accommodation would safeguard the board’s documents and improve workers’ performance.
He identified inadequate subvention as major problem confronting the board and solicited for the assembly’ support.
“The board has been up and doing in sensitising the people of the state to the need to live in peace and tolerate one another, irrespective of our ethnic, religion and political affiliation.
“But our major problem is finance. As you can see, we are living in a rented accommodation in which our files and other documents are at risk,” Odeh said.
He appealed to the political class and wealthy individuals to sponsor the poor to Jerusalem for pilgrimage, saying there was need for spiritual and physical empowerment.
Earlier, Alhaji Yahaya Rilwanu (APC-Awe South), Chairman, House Committee on Pilgrims Matters, said that the visit was to assess the 2016 budget performance of the board, to address any challenge.
“It is only when the committee knows the budget details or performance of the ministry in the 2016 fiscal year that it will serve as a guide for the 2017 fiscal year,” Rilwanu said. (NAN)
BAB/ORO/IA
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Edited by Razak Owolabi