National Assembly NASS passes Nigerian Peace Corps Bill into law

The Nigerian Peace Corps Bill seeks to empower, develop and provide gainful employment for the youths.

The Senate has passed the Nigerian Peace Corps Bill into law.

The Bill, which was passed on Thursday, November 24, gives approval for the establishment of the Nigerian Peace Corps as an agency under the Ministry of Interior.

The Senate Committee on Interior presented its report on the floor of the floor of the upper chamber.

Chairman of the Committee, Senator Bayero Nafada urged the Senate to support the passage of the Bill, saying "the organisation will be of great benefit to the Nigerian youths."

"In response to increasing complexity of the factors responsible for insecurity and the method by which peace and security is being undermined in Nigeria, there is need to develop comprehensive, multi-sectoral, multi-stakeholders and inclusive approaches in order to stem these threats," he said.

The committee recommended that the Nigerian Peace Corps and the National Unity and Peace Corps should be merged as one, since both formations appear the same.

Nafada further said that the committee received 237 written memoranda and numerous oral submissions from government ministries, traditional institutions, religious bodies, academia, NGOs, other various interest groups and individuals.

"Two Hundred and Nineteen (219) of the written memoranda received and most of the oral presentations at the hearing supported the establishment of the Nigerian Peace Corps while Fourteen (14) supported the establishment of National Unity and Peace Corps," he said.

On Thursday March 10, 2016, the Senate had debated on the general principles of the Nigerian Peace Corps Bill, 2016 (SB.173) sponsored by Senator Ali Ndume (Borno South); and the National Unity and Peace Corps Bill, 2016 (SB.183) sponsored by Senator Binta Garba Masi (Adamawa North); and referred to one of its committee for further legislative action.

The Nigerian Peace Corps Bill among others, seeks to empower, develop and provide gainful employment for the youths, to facilitate Peace, Volunteerism, Community Services, Neighbourhood Watch and Nation-building.

It was recommended that the Head of the Corps be referred to as Commandant-General (CG) with six Deputy Commandant – General (DCGs) and six Assistant Commandant – General (ACGs), drawn from the six geopolitical zones which should reflect the Federal Character principle.