PEACE CORPS BILL TO BE RE-CONSIDERED IN THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE BY THE HOUSE OF REPS

Hope for the actualisation of the Nigerian Peace Corps (Establishment) Bill has brightened as the House of Representatives has adopted a resolution to reconsider the Bill in the Committee of the Whole without being commence de-novo.

The Nigerian Peace Corps Bill, which was recently re-gazetted as HB. 17 was re-introduced and sponsored by the Chief Whip, Rt. Hon. Mohammed Tahir Monguno recently passed First Reading in the House of Representatives. The re-introduction and re-gazetting of the Bill by the House of Representatives and the unanimous resolution to reconsider the Bill in the Committee of the Whole is in pursuant to Order 12, Rule 16 of the Standing Order of the House, which prescribed that a Bill passed by the previous Assembly could be revisited by the succeeding Assembly.

The Nigerian Peace Corps Bill, which was overwhelming passed by the two Chambers of the 8th National Assembly is to give statutory backing to the existing Peace Corps of Nigeria with a core mandate to Develop, Empower and provide gainful Employment for the youths, facilitate Peace, Volunteerism, Community Services, Neighbourhood watch and Nation-building; and for other Related Matters. Meanwhile, while reacting to the re-introduction of the Bill, the National Commandant, Peace Corps of Nigeria, Dr Dickson Akoh, on behalf of the Organisation, expressed his gratitude to the Honourable Speaker, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila and the entire Members of the House of Representatives, for the decision to revisit the Bill, which was overwhelmingly passed by the two Chambers of the 8th National Assembly.

Dr Akoh urges Members of the Organisation to be patient and remain steadfast, as he is very optimistic that the Bill will see the light of the day this time around, since the main reservation raised by Mr President in withholding assent to the Bill has been adequately addressed.