WE HAVE THE MANDATE TO CHANGE THE FACE OF PILGRIMAGE IN NIGERIA -NCPC Boss …also received Prof. Ayo Omotayo, the DG, NIPSS
Bishop Stephen Adegbite, the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC), has disclosed that he is mandated to change the face of Christian pilgrimage in Nigeria. Adegbite made this known on Tuesday, 25th February, 2025, while receiving officials of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offenses Commission (ICPC) in his office in Abuja.
According to Celestine Toruka, the Deputy Director and Head Media and Public Relations, the NCPC boss explained that within 1 year in office he has been able to get the Commission out of its quagmire, stating that when he assumed office on the 5th of February 2024, he met nothing on ground to start with, but today the story is different.
He pledged to work harmoniously with the anti-craft agency for optimal results. “We will work with you transparently, and in tandem,” he said.
He reiterated that the Commission would always partner with anti-corruption agencies because they are partners in progress.
Bishop Adegbite emphasized the need for people to be committed and diligent in their work to earn legitimate earnings, stating that there is no place for laziness.
“We want a country where there will be corruption-free, where people work and earn a living .” He further stressed the need for due diligence to be religiously adhered to in the Commission, “We must observe due diligence”, he said.
Earlier, Mr Olusegun Adigun, the leader of the delegation, also the director of the System Study and Review department of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Offenses Related Commission, informed the NCPC boss that they were in the Commission for an advocacy visit. Additionally, he said they were in NCPC to brief the Executive Secretary about the mandate of ICPC and the functions of ACTU.
He explained that the Federal Executive Council approved the Act setting up ACTU in Ministries, Departments and Agencies in 2001 and as at today, about 600 MDAs have established ACTU units in their organization.
He commended NCPC for setting up an ACTU unit and expressed the need of a functional ACTU unit in the Commission, stating that the current ACTU unit in NCPC is not functional.
He further explained that ACTU’’s mandate includes: system study, public enlightenment on ills of corruption, members to attend and act as observer at meetings of JSC/SSc and tenders board of MDA/s and carry out periodic system review to identify and block all corruption prone loopholes and that ACTU is empowered to carry out all the mandates of ICPC, except prosecution.
Mr. Adigun solicited the support of the Executive Secretary to strengthen ACTU to function effectively in the Commission.
In another development, the Executive Secretary, Nigeria Christian Pilgrim Commission, NCPC, Bishop Prof Stephen Adegbite received the Director General, of National Institute For Policy and Strategic Studies, NIPSS, Kuru, Prof. Ayo Omotayo at the Commission’s corporate headquarters in Abuja, on Tuesday, 25 February, 2025.
