Mr Babachir Lawal, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) has called on the Nigerian Christian Pilgrimage Commission (NCPC) to embrace the Federal Government Treasury Single Account (TSA) policy.

This is contained in a statement issued by Mr Bolaji Adebiyi, Director of Press in the Office of the SGF and issued to newsmen on Wednesday in Abuja

The statement said Lawal made the call when he received the 2015 Christian Pilgrimage Report of the commission.

It said that the SGF commended the commission for its innovations in the funding of its activities and for inspiring Nigerians who perform the Christian pilgrimage.

It pledged the commitment of the Federal Government to address the challenges facing the commission.

The statement said that the SGF assured the commission that the Federal Government would do its best to ensure that the Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) signed with Israel becomes operational.

He urged the commission to remain non-partisan in the discharge of its responsibilities.

The statement said that the Chairman of NCPC Rev. Nicolas Okoh, told the SGF that the commission conducted four pilgrimages in 2015.

“These were the Easter, Youth, Family and Main Pilgrimages. During the pilgrimages, there were no cases of mishaps nor pilgrim absconding,” the statement quoted Okoh as saying.

It said that Kennedy Opara, the Executive Secretary of NCPC had told the SGF that apart from visiting Israel for the Main Pilgrimage, pilgrims were also taken to Greece and Rome.

(NAN)