On Thursday, February 29, the House of Representatives passed the Bill for an Act to establish the Nigerian Peace Corps for the second time since the 10th Assembly’s inception.
On Thursday, October 12, 2023, the 10th House of Representatives passed the measure for the first time; but, two months later, in order to resolve new issues with the bill, the House revoked it.
Francis Waive, the chairman of the House Committee on Rules and Business, stated in his motion for rescission that new information has surfaced that will enhance the Corps’ operating framework and functions.
He underlined that the Bill must be returned to the Committee of the Whole for review and approval after the House rescinded its decision on it.
The law, which was previously passed by the 9th Assembly but did not receive presidential assent, was reintroduced into the House on the initiative of House Leader Julius Ihonvbare and Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu.
The law, among other things, aims to create the Nigerian Peace Corps, an organization tasked with training, empowering, and employing young people for productive work in order to promote nation-building, community services, neighborhood watch, volunteerism, and peace.
The Senate will now receive the bill for concurrence before it is forwarded to the President for ratification.
Dickson Akoh, the National Commandant of Nigeria, founded the Peace Corps of Nigeria more than 25 years ago. It was incorporated under the Company and Allied Matters (CAMA) Act.
It received recognition from the Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Youth Development, and the Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget, and National Planning gave it permission to function as a non-governmental organization in the nation.