Senate Wants N200 To Dollar Rate For Pilgrimages

The Senate on Thursday urged the Federal Government to give N200
to dollar concession to the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria
(NAHCON) and the Nigeria Christian Pilgrims Commission (NCPC) once
in every year.

It said that it was for pilgrimages to the respective holy lands
for Muslims and Christians.

This was part of the recommendations by the Committee on Foreign
Affairs on “The Extortion of Pilgrims by the National Hajj
Commission of Nigeria’’ presented by the Chairman, Sen. Monsurat
Sunmonu, at plenary.

The committee recommended the concession to bring down the cost
of the pilgrimages to bearable level.

The Senate had in a motion on June 7, urged the Federal
Government to review downwards, the 2017 Hajj fare.

Part of the 10-point recommendation by the committee was that
the Federal Government should hold discussions with Saudi Arabia
authorities.

Sunmonu said that the consultation with the Saudi government was
to review the 50-50 carriage of pilgrims between Nigeria and Saudi
Arabian airlines.

“This is with a view to providing opportunities for more
indigenous Nigerian airlines to participate in the Hajj operations.
This will give Nigeria varieties in choosing the air carrier.

“The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria should expedite action
on the establishment of Hajj Savings Schemes in compliance with
Section 7(1 and 2) of the NAHCON Act.

“The Nigeria Government and its economic team must do everything
possible to improve on the Nigerian monetary policy which would
expectedly guarantee a long-time stable relationship of the Naira
with other currencies,” she said.

Sunmonu noted that 98 per cent of the entire Hajj operations
were dollars-denominated with only two per cent as naira
content.

In his contribution, Sen. Ali Wakil (APC-Bauchi) said that there
was need for an ad hoc committee to look into the matter of feeding
and transportation of the pilgrims.

He called for the restoration of Amirul Hajj to serve as checks
and balance between Nigeria and Saudi.

In his remarks, the President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki,
said “we passed the 2017-2019 Medium Term Expenditure Framework
(MTEF) and based on it, we have passed what should be the exchange
rate which is N305 to a dollar.

“We should make laws that are truly going to guide our people
because we have MTEF which says the exchange is N305.

“If with passing MTEF nobody should be given N200, but
businessmen are getting N200, then, definitely pilgrims deserve
N200 as well,” he said.

Saraki said that the Senate must put an end to the money-making
venture, because pilgrimage was a religious activity and should not
be for money-making.

“We will put an end to these leakages,’’ he stated.

Saraki said.

The Senate accepted the recommendations but rejected the one
requesting NAHCON to ensure improved feeding for Nigerian
contingents to all designated points, insisting that feeding should
be left to the pilgrims.

The Senate on Thursday urged the Federal Government to give N200
to dollar concession to the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria
(NAHCON) and the Nigeria Christian Pilgrims Commission (NCPC) once
in every year.

It said that it was for pilgrimages to the respective holy lands
for Muslims and Christians.

This was part of the recommendations by the Committee on Foreign
Affairs on “The Extortion of Pilgrims by the National Hajj
Commission of Nigeria’’ presented by the Chairman, Sen. Monsurat
Sunmonu, at plenary.

The committee recommended the concession to bring down the cost
of the pilgrimages to bearable level.

The Senate had in a motion on June 7, urged the Federal
Government to review downwards, the 2017 Hajj fare.

Part of the 10-point recommendation by the committee was that
the Federal Government should hold discussions with Saudi Arabia
authorities.

Sunmonu said that the consultation with the Saudi government was
to review the 50-50 carriage of pilgrims between Nigeria and Saudi
Arabian airlines.

“This is with a view to providing opportunities for more
indigenous Nigerian airlines to participate in the Hajj operations.
This will give Nigeria varieties in choosing the air carrier.

“The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria should expedite action
on the establishment of Hajj Savings Schemes in compliance with
Section 7(1 and 2) of the NAHCON Act.

“The Nigeria Government and its economic team must do everything
possible to improve on the Nigerian monetary policy which would
expectedly guarantee a long-time stable relationship of the Naira
with other currencies,” she said.

Sunmonu noted that 98 per cent of the entire Hajj operations
were dollars-denominated with only two per cent as naira
content.

In his contribution, Sen. Ali Wakil (APC-Bauchi) said that there
was need for an ad hoc committee to look into the matter of feeding
and transportation of the pilgrims.

He called for the restoration of Amirul Hajj to serve as checks
and balance between Nigeria and Saudi.

In his remarks, the President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki,
said “we passed the 2017-2019 Medium Term Expenditure Framework
(MTEF) and based on it, we have passed what should be the exchange
rate which is N305 to a dollar.

“We should make laws that are truly going to guide our people
because we have MTEF which says the exchange is N305.

“If with passing MTEF nobody should be given N200, but
businessmen are getting N200, then, definitely pilgrims deserve
N200 as well,” he said.

Saraki said that the Senate must put an end to the money-making
venture, because pilgrimage was a religious activity and should not
be for money-making.

“We will put an end to these leakages,’’ he stated.

Saraki said.

The Senate accepted the recommendations but rejected the one
requesting NAHCON to ensure improved feeding for Nigerian
contingents to all designated points, insisting that feeding should
be left to the pilgrims.