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The President of Christian Association of Nigeria
(CAN) and the Sultan of Sokoto have been made permanent Heads of the
Federal Government delegation during Christian and Muslim pilgrimages.

President Goodluck Jonathan announced the decision on
Thursday at the inauguration of the headquarters of the Nigerian
Christian Pilgrims Commission, in Abuja. He said government decided to
stop the nomination of ad-hoc heads to pave way for continuity and
efficiency.

“We have resolved that head of federal government
delegation to Isreal and Rome will henceforth be the President of CAN,”
he said. “Now, we want to make it permanent and we are doing the same
thing for hajj. The spiritual head of the Muslims who is the Sultan of
Sokoto will continue to be the Amir Hajj. Any year he is not able to
go, he will recommend the head. We want to institutionalise it so that
we can have proper record”.

Mr Jonathan, who said government had resolved to
work closely with religious organisations to strengthen the education
sector and bring it back from its lost glory, said one of the greatest
challenges of the sector is the lack of morals and values in children,
contributing to mass failure in general examinations.

Back to the old system

He also said government was prepared to revert to the
old system where religious bodies played vital roles in the education
system and inculcated moral values and discipline in children.

Mr Jonathan, who dedicated the building to the ‘peace
and stability in Nigeria and to the goodwill of every Nigerian,
irrespective of religious affiliation,’ urged the leadership of the
Commission to look for ways to generate funds to assist the less
privileged to pay their way to pilgrimages.

The President, and governors of Gombe, Rivers, Benue,
Enugu and Kaduna states were honoured for the roles they have played in
assisting the Commission and pilgrims in general.

The Executive Secretary of the Commission, Kennedy
Okpara said the 2010 pilgrimage activities would commence on Oct. 28
and end in December.

He thanked the President, the awardees and others who had
contributed significantly to the success of the Commission since
inception in 2007.