Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board Law, 1984

MUSLIM PILGRIMS WELFARE BOARD LAW, 1984

1. Citation. This Law may be cited as the Muslim Pilgrims Welfare-Board Law, 1984 and shall be deemed to have come into operation on the 11th of April, 1984.

2. Interpretation. In the Law, unless the context otherwise requires- "Board" means the Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board established under section 3 (1) of this Law; "financial year" means the period commencing from 1st January to 31st December, of each year; "Pilgrim" means a person of Muslim faith who travels to a distance to visit a holy place or shrine; "Governor" means the Governor of the State; "State" means the Delta State of Nigeria.

3. Establishment of the Board. (1) There shall be established for the State a body to be known as Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board. (2) The Board shall be a body corporate having a perpetual succession and a common seal with power to sue and be sued in its corporate name and may purchase or otherwise acquire, hold, dispose of and alienate real and personal property.

4. Constitution of the Board. (1) The Board shall consist of a chairman and four other members who shall be on part time. (2) The Chairman and members of the Board shall be appointed by the Governor. (3) The Chairman and members of the Board shall hold office for a period of three years in the first instance without prejudice to their being re-appointed.

5. Remuneration. The Chairman and members of the Board shall be paid such remuneration and allowances as the Governor may from time to time determine.

6. Vacation of office. The seat of a member of the Board shall become vacant on the occurrence of any of the following events- (a) death; or (b) resignation; or (c) the dissolution of the Board; or removal by the Governor for misbehaviour or any other cause.

7. Appointment of staff and agents. (1) There shall be appointed for the Board a Secretary who shall be the chief executive officer of the Board and shall be responsible for the day-to-day running of the Board. (2) The Board may with the approval of the Governor employ any number of staff and any number of agents for the Board as the Board may consider necessary for the proper discharge of the functions assigned to it under this Law. (3) The said staff and agents shall be employed by the Board subject to such terms and conditions as may be specified in their letters of appointment and shall be paid such remuneration as the Board may determine.

8. Functions of the Board. The functions of the Board shall be- (a) to protect and safeguard the interest and welfare of the Pilgrims of the State origin journeying to and from any place of Pilgrimage; (b) to make suitable arrangements for the transport and accommodation for the Pilgrims; and (c) to assist the Pilgrims in matters relating to immigration and currency exchange.

9. Power of the Governor to give directives to the Board. The Governor may give to the Board general or specific directions as to the policy to be followed in the discharge of its functions under this Law and the Board shall give effect to all such directions.

10. Funds of the Board. The Board shall maintain a fund which shall consist of- (a) such monies as may be granted in each financial year to the Board by the State Government; (b) such monies as may be received by the Board in relation to the exercise of any of its powers under this Law; (c) such monies as may be payable to the Board in respect of any matter incidental to its functions.

11. Proceedings. The Board shall have power to regulate its own proceedings and may function, notwithstanding any vacancy in its membership.

12. Quorum. Three members of the Board, of whom one shall be the Chairman or in his absence any other member nominated by the members present, shall constitute a quorum.

13. Regulations. The Board may make regulations for the purposes of this Law and in particular may make regulations providing for the payment of fees or charges in such cases as may be determined by the Board for service rendered by it.

14. Immunity of members of the Board from liability. No member of the Board shall be personally liable for any act done or omitted to be done in good faith in the course of the operations of the Board.

15. Accounts and audit. The Board shall keep proper accounts, in a form which shall conform with satisfactory commercial standards, of its receipts, payments, credits and liabilities and shall submit same with vouchers to the State Director of Audit to be audited.

16. Annual report. The Board shall, at the end of each financial year, submit to the Governor a report dealing with activities of the Board during that financial year.