The National Assembly has forwarded the harmonised version of the bill on Nigerian Peace Corps to President Muhammadu Buhari for assent following its passage by both the Senate and the House of Representatives.
The bill, sponsored by Ali Ndume, senator representing Borno north, passed third reading on April 12, 2022 after Sadiq Umar, chairman of the senate committee on interior, presented a report.
The bill was transmitted for Presidential assent by the Clerk to the National Assembly (CNA), Sani Tambuwal in a letter this week.
Three copies of the authenticated copies of the bills, the source added, were forwarded to the President for assent , one of which is expected to be retained by him and the other two sent back to the National Assembly for further action, News Agency of Nigeria reported.
President Buhari is expected to assent to the bill on or before May 11 when 30 days window in line with provisions of the 1999 Constitution.
The Bill, if assented to, the existing Peace Corps of Nigeria that had been operating on template of volunteerism over the years, will now be Federal Government owned and funded Agency in the name of Nigeria Peace Corps.
In 2018, President Buhari rejected the bill, citing security concerns and financial burden of funding the organisation.
However, the bill was reintroduced by Ndume in 2019. He argued that the concerns raised by President Buhari had been addressed in the new bill.
Ifunanya Ikueze is an Engineer, Safety Professional, Writer, Investor, Entrepreneur and Educator.
