NIGERIAN PILGRIMS COMMISSION ACT 1989

NIGERIAN PILGRIMS COMMISSION ACT

1989

An Act to repeal the Nigerian Pilgrims Board Act and establish the Nigerian Pilgrims Commission with responsibility for the general welfare of muslims who undertake pilgrimages.

[1989 No.6.]

[6th February, 1989] [Commencement.]

1. (1) There is hereby established a body to be known as the Nigerian Pilgrims Commission (in this Act referred to as “the Commission”) which shall be charged with responsibility for the general welfare of Nigerians undertaking a pilgrimage to el-Hajj or el-Umra or to both pilgrimages and perform such other duties incidental thereto as may be prescribed by this Act.(2) The Commission shall be a body corporate with perpetual succession and a common seal and shall have power to sue and be sued in its corporate name and, subject to the need of or prior approval where prescribed in this Act or the Land Use Act, the Commission may hold, acquire and dispose of any property, movable or immovable. [Cap. L5.]	Establishment of the Nigerian Pilgrims Commission
2. (1) The Commission shall consist of-(a) a full-time chairman to be appointed by the President;(b) one representative from each of the following, that is– (i) the Federal Ministry of Internal Affairs; (ii) the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; (iii) the Central Bank of Nigeria; and (iv) the Federal Ministry of Health;(c) five part-time members and four full-time members to be appointed by the President.(2) The chairman and full-time members of the Commission shall be paid salaries and allowances whilst the part-time members shall be paid allowances only as the Minister may recommend.(3) The supplementary provisions contained in the Schedule to this Act shall have effect with respect to the tenure of office of members and proceeding of the Commission and the other matters mentioned therein.	Composition of the Commission
3. (1) It shall be the duty of the Commission to arrange suitable transport and accommodation for Nigerians undertaking a pilgrimage (such persons in this Act referred to as”pilgrims”) and generally to safeguard the interests of pilgrims at all stages of the pilgrimage.(2) In the application of subsection (1) of this section, pilgrims, shall be transported by air as far as practicable, and to such end the Commission shall subject to the enactments regulating civil aviation) make suitable arrangements with any airline of its choice.	Special duties of the Commission
4. (1) The Commission shall, in the course of a pilgrimage, render all reasonable assistance which pilgrims may require in matters touching or concerning-(a) health, immigration, foreign exchange; and(b) the importation into Nigeria thereafter of items for the time being exempted from payment of duty but not otherwise.(2) It shall be the duty of the Commission–(a) to seek and obtain advice on standards (religious or of health) and other matters appropriate to pilgrimages as the Commission considers necessary;(b) to establish or set up, and maintain- (i) a library of books and other relevant publications as well as cinematograph and other facilities of use to persons interested in or desirous of undertaking a pilgrimage, so however that the library shall be open to the public upon and subject to any condition as to the user which the Commission may think fit to impose; (ii) a continuing campaign, educative as well as religious. in all the States of the Federation, and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, the educative function being as well relati ve to the functions of the Commission as to pilgrimages generally; (iii) pilgrims camps in Nigeria at such place or places approved by the Minister;(c) in respect of every pilgrimage, to appoint- (i) such number of medical practitioners and medical staff as it thinks fit; (ii) welfare officers to carry out in Nigeria and elsewhere as directed by the Commission the pilgrim welfare policy of the Commission in respect of the pilgrimage for which they are appointed; (iii) a sufficient number from a list of persons known as Mutawwifs and Muzawwirs as guides during a pilgrimage.(3) For the purposes of this section, the course of a pilgrimage shall be the period of time fixed by the Commission after taking such advice in any particular case as it thinks fit.	General duties of the Commission
5. (1) The Commission shall have power to initiate and establish a Hajj Savings Scheme to be managed under a fund established for this purpose in an interest-free bank to be owned or sponsored by the Commission.(2) Subject to this Act, the Commission shall have power to do such acts which in its opinion shall facilitate the performance of its duties under this Act.	Power of the Commission
6. (1) The Commission shall have a permanent secretariat with a secretary who shall be appointed by the President and shall have such qualifications and experience as are appropriate for a person requested to perform the functions of his office.(2) The Commission shall appoint other members of staff on such terms and conditions as it may authorise or approve from time to time.(3) The secretary and other members of staff of the Commission shall be paid remunerations, allowances and expenses on such scale as the Commission shall, with the approval of the Federal Civil Service Commission, determine.(4) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (1) of this section, the Commission may appoint any of the members of staff of the Commission by way of transfer or secondment from any of the public services of the Federation or approved establishment.	Secretariat and staff of the Commission
7. (1) The funds of the Commission shall consist of-(a) all such sums as may be charged by the Commission as fees, dues and other amounts payable to the Commission pursuant to subsection (3) of section 8 of this Act;(b) all revenue accruing to or vested in the Commission by way of grants-in-aid or otherwise howsoever; and(c) any other monies saved by the Commission such as prodeeds from the operation of interest-free scheme or borrowed pursuant to the provisions of this Act or any other enactment.(2) In respect of the revenue of each financial year, the Commission shall, except in the case of the first pilgrimage after the commencement of this Act, prepare and submit to the Minister not later than three months before every pilgrimage, an estimate of its expenditure and income during the next succeeding financial year, provided that the Commission shall submit an advance estimate whenever it is requested to do so by the Minister.(3) Subject to the prescribed rules, the Commission shall keep proper accounts and records in relation to its fund and shall cause its accounts to be audited not later than six months after the end of the financial year to which the accounts relate by auditors appointed from the list and in accordance with the guidelines supplied by the Auditor-General for the Federation.(4) For the purposes of this section, the prescribed rules shall-(a) provide a system of accounting whereby the commission shall establish and maintain under its control sufficient amount on an account; (i) with an interest-free scheme account in Nigeria; or (ii) as the circumstances may require and with the approval of the Minister of Finance and subject to such conditions as be may impose, with banks outside Nigeria, into which shall be paid monies received by the Commission in the first instance; and(b) contain provisions- (i) specifying the manner in which the properties of the Commission and assets of the funds are to be held; (ii) regulating the making of payment into and out of the funds; (iii) regulating the keeping of proper accounts and records; (iv) requiring copies of the accounts of the auditor’s report thereon to be furnished to the President through the Minister from time to time.(5) The Commission may, pursuant to the provisions of this Act from time to time, borrow monies for purposes of carrying out its duties as provided in this Act.	Financial provisions
8. (1) The Commission shall consult with all persons likely in the opinion of the chairman to be of assistance, and without prejudice to the requirement for consultation, the Commission shall be the sole authority to arrange transport from camps established by it in Nigeria to the place of arrival in the country of the pilgrimage outside Nigeria and thereafter from the place of departure in that country for the purpose of return to Nigeria after a pilgrimage.(2) For the purposes of subsection (1) of this section, the Commission shall fix the cost of the return fare for any individual undertaking a pilgrimage and when so fixed the Commission shall give public notice of the overall charge to agencies and other persons as it thinks expedient or necessary.(3) Any cost fixed pursuant to subsection (2) of this section shall include–(a) return fares as respects transport to and from the place of arrival in the country of the pilgrimage outside Nigeria referred to in subsection (1) of this section which shall be fixed by the carrier;(b) taxes in the country of the pilgrimage;(c) where applicable, pilgrims agency commission; and(d) mutawwif and muzawwvir fees and other fees and charges incidental thereto.(4) Where the Commission fixes fees under subsection (2) of this section and money is thereafter paid to a pilgrims agency by an intending pilgrim,the agency shall forthwith remit the amount received to the Commission less any commission which the Commission may authorise the agency to deduct (and which the Commission is hereby authorised so to do) as a deduction to be retained by the appropriate agency.(5) As soon as the Commission has received all pilgrimage fees paid by individuals as prescribed under subsection (2) of this section, the Commission shall pay to persons entitled all the fees and other disbursements.(6) Failure to pay any money due to the Commission under subsection (4) of this section shall be an offence under this Act.(7) Any manager or person in control of any agency which failed to pay any money due to the Commission shall be guilty of an offence under this Act and upon conviction by the competent court shall pay a fine equal to double the amount by which the agency is in default or in the alternative shall be sentenced to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years .	Fees, etc., for pilgrimages to be fixed by the Commission
9. (1) The Commission may in respect of a pilgrimage delegate any of its functions under this Act to the authority charged with the responsibility for the general care and welfare of pilgrims in that State, instead of authorising licensing agencies in a State, if satisfied that it is in the interest of the pilgrims so to do.(2) Where a delegation is made under subsection (1) of this section, it shall be subject to any conditions which the Commission may reasonably impose, and the agency shall be deemed to have applied for and been granted a licence under this Act and the provisions as to registration shall have effect accordingly.	Delegation of functions
10. (1) The Commission shall not later than three months after the completion of a pilgrimage, prepare and submit to the Minister a report on the pilgrimage.(2) The Minister shall on receipt of a report submitted under subsection (1) of this section–(a) forward a copy thereof with the comments and recommendations (if any) of his Ministry to the President;(b) transmit a copy thereof to the Governor of each State of the Federation and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory respectively.	Report of pilgrimage by the Commission
11. Where the Commission is satisfied that a person has committed any offence or misconduct specified by the Commission in the regulations made pursuant to section 13 of this Act, the Commission may, with the prior approval of the Mihister disqualify that person from undertaking any pilgrimage organised or supervised by the Commission pursuant to this Act and the disqualification shall have effect for such period as the Commission may specify.	Power to defer pilgrimage in certain cases
12. If a State at any time defaults in the payment to the Commissioh of any amount due from the State or the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja to the Commission under this Act, the Commission shall notify the President of the default. and thereafter the Federal Government may set off the amount in respect of which default is made in or towards the payment of any sum due from the Federal Government to such State or the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja and the Federal Government shall pay any Sum so set off to the Commission.	Set-off
13. (1) Subject to the provisions of this section, the Commission may make regulations generally for the purposes of this Act and without prejudice to the generality thereof, such regulations may contain provisions specifying offences and types of misconduct, whether committed in Nigeria or elsewhere, that would disqualify any person from undertaking any pilgrimage organised or supervised by the Commission.(2) Regulations when made shall be published in the Federal Gazette and in such other manner as the Commission may direct.	Regulations
14. Subject to section 6 of the Interpretation Act, the Nigerian Pilgrims Board Act is hereby repealed and the assets and liabilities of the Board established by the said Act are hereby transferred to the Commission. [Cap. 123. Cap. 321. L.F.N. 1990.]	Repeals, etc.
15. (1) In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires– “carrier” means an airline; “Commission” means the Nigerian Pilgrims Commission established by section 1 of this Act; “member” means a member of the Commission and includes the chairman; “Minister” means the Minister charged with responsibility for matters relating to foreign affairs; “scheme” means interest-free scheme established by the Commission pursuant to this Act.(2) In the application of this Act, el Hajj has reference to the pilgrimage to Mecca, including in any such pilgrimage the following places, that is, Medina, Arafat and Muna.	Interpretation
16. This Act may be cited as the Nigerian Pilgrims Commission Act.	Short title

SCHEDULE
[Section 2 (3).]

Supplementary provisions relating to the Commission
Tenure of office

1. (1) A member, other than one appointed by virtue of his office, shall hold office for a
   period of five years beginning with the date of his appointment as a member, but shall be eligible
   for re-appointment at the expiration of that period.
   (2) A member, other than one appointed by virtue of his office, may at any time resign
   his appointment by notice in writing under his hand; and the resignation shall have effect upon
   signification by any means of its acceptance by the President so however that if the vacancy is
   in respect of a member within section 2 (1) (c) of this Act it shall be filled from the same State
   as that of the member resigning.
   (3) Members appointed by office shall cease to be members upon ceasing to hold the office
   entitling them to be appointed to the Commission.
   (4) Any member may be removed from office by the President on the recommendation
   of the Minister for inability to discharge the functions of his office (whether arising from infirmity
   of mind or body or any other cause) or for misconduct.

Proceedings of the Commission

2. (1) Subject to the provisions of this Act, the Commission may make standing orders
   regulating the proceedings of the Commission or of any committee thereof.
   (2) The quorum at any meeting of the Commission shall be seven members.
   (3) The chairman shall preside at all meetings at which he is present and in his absence
   the members present may elect one of their number in attendance to be chairman at the meeting.
   (4) Questions for determination shall be decided by the majority of the votes of members
   present and voting and every member, other than a co-opted member. shall have a deliberative
   vote for the purpose; so however that in the event that the votes are equal the chairman.
   shall have. in addition to his deliberative vote, a casting vote.

(5) The Commission shall meet not less than twice in any year an,d subject to the provisions
of any standing orders of the Commission, it shall meet at other times according as it is
summoned by the chairman, and if the chairman is required to do so by hotice in writing given
to him by no less than five other members. he shall summon a meeting of the Commission to
be held within fourteen days from the date on which the notice is given. .
(6) Where the Commission desires to obtain the advice of any person on a particular
matter, the Commission may co-opt that person as a member for such period as it thinks fit;
but a person who is a member by virtue of this sub-paragraph shall not be entitled to vote at
any meeting of the Commission, and shall not count towards a quorum.
(7) The first meeting of the Commission shall, notwithsumding ‘the provisions of this
paragraph, be summoned by the Minister who may give such directions as he thinks fit as to
the procedure to be followed at the meetings; and any other meeting may be convened by the
Minister if the chairman fails or refuses to do so.

Committees

3. (1) The Commission may appoint one or more committees either standing or ad-hoc to
   carry out, on its behalf such functions as the Commission may detennind.(2) A committee appointed under this paragraph shall consist of the number of persons
   to be determined by the Commission and any committee so appointed may co-opt any person
   whose advice is desired as a member but the co-opted member shall not be entitled to vote at
   any meeting of the committee and shall not count towards a quorum.
   (3) A decision of a committee of the Commission shall be of no effect until it is confirmed
   by the Commission.

Miscellaneous

4. The fixing of the seal of the Commission shall be authenticated by the signature of the
   chairman or of some other member authorised generally or specially by the Commission to act
   for that purpose.
5. Any document purporting to be a document duly executed under the seal of the Commission
   shall be signed by the chairman and the secretary and shall be received in evidence and
   shall, unless the contrary is proved. be deemed to be so executed.
6. The validity of any proceedings of the Commission or a committee thereof shall not be
   adversely affected by any vacancy in the membership of the Commissioh or committee, or by
   any defect in the appointment of a member of the Commission or of a person to serve on the
   committee, or by reason that a person not entitled to do so took part in the proceedings.
7. A member of the Commission who has a personal interest in any contract or arrangement
   entered into or proposed to be considered by the Commission or a committee thereof shall
   forthwith disclose his interest to the Commission and shall not vote on dny questions relating –
   to the contract or arrangement.
8. A person shall not, by reason only of his membership of the Commission, be treated as
   holding an office in the public service of the Federation or of a State.
9. No member of the Commission shall be personally liable for any act or default of the
   Commission done or omitted to be done in good faith in the course of the operations of the
   Commission.