NASS To Transmit Peace Corps Bill To Buhari For Assent

National Assembly (NASS) is set to transmit the bill for the establishment of the Nigeria Peace Corps to President Muhammadu Buhari for his assent.

It was gathered that the House of Representatives took the lead by constituting a six-man conference committee to work with their Senate counterparts to harmonise and produce a clean copy for onward transmission to Buhari for assent.

Members of the House Conference Committee are Hon Babangida Ibrahim (chairman) Hon Tijani Kayode Ismail, Hon Chinedu Ogah, Hon Ibrahim Umar Potiskum, Hon Abdulmumini Are and Hon Legor Idegbo as members.

On its part, the Senate Committee members are Senator Kashim Shettima, chairman while Senators Abba Moro, Betty Apiafi, Oriolowo Adelere, Eyinnaya Abaribe and Seriake Dickson are members.

The Conference Committee members are to look at discrepancies and harmonise them before forwarding the clean copy to the presidency.

The Nigeria Peace Corps (NPC) Establishment Bill passed in 2022 by the two chambers was sponsored by the chairman, Senate Committee of the Nigerian Army, Senator Ali Ndume while that of the House of Representatives was sponsored by the chief whip, Hon Mohammed Monguno as HB17

It was gathered that the harmonisation would be completed before the lawmakers proceed on campaign recess next week.

One of the lawmakers who did not want his name mentioned said that the harmonised copy of the Bill would reach President Buhari’s table early enough so as to quicken presidential assent to it.

The bill, among others, seeks to establish the Nigerian Peace Corps as a body charged with the responsibility to develop, empower and provide gainful employment to youths, facilitate peace, volunteerism, community service, neighborhood watch and nation building.

According to Part Vlll of the bill, when assented to by Buhari, would give statutory backing to the existing Peace Corps of Nigeria.

The Peace Corps of Nigeria established over 24 years ago under the national commandant, Professor Dickson Ameh Akoh, is Incorporated in Nigeria under the Company and Allied Matters (CAMA) Act and accorded the federal government recognition through the Federal Ministry of Youth Development.

Due to the value driven programs of the Corps, aimed at the socio-economic empowerment of the Nigerian youths and its onerous contributions to peace building and advocacy, the United Nations in 2011 accorded the organization a Special Consultative Status while the African Union in 2016 accorded same status to the organization, thus, making it a member of the Social and Economic Councils of both the United Nations and the African Union.

So far, the organization has a well-structured network of offices in the 36 States of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

It has a membership strength of over 187,000 comprising both regular staff and volunteers.

For the landmark achievements and accomplishments of the organization thus far, the corps and its National Commandant have received over 110 Awards Nationally and Internationally.