By Gift Olivia Samuel, The Sight News
ABUJA: Following the passage of the Bill by the National Assembly to establish the Nigerian Peace Corps, the Commandant-General of the National Unity and Peace Corps, Dr Chinedu Nneji, has appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari, whose responsibility it is to grant approval to the Bill, to give legitimacy to it before handing over.
This is just as he noted, that assenting to the Bill which will be transmitted by the National Assembly to the Presidency in the next few days, will create opportunities for the youths of the country to be gainfully employed, instead of engaging in restiveness and crime.
Dr. Nneji who made this known to Journalists on Thursday in Abuja, also appealed to the President to grant assent to the Bill as a parting gift now that the elections are around the corner, adding that the Bill will fall in line with what the Nigerian state needs at this moment, especially concerning the reduction of insecurity and youth restiveness in the country.
According to him, “We are appealing to him as a father to use this as a parting gift, now that the elections are around the corner. He can sign this Bill, grant us his well desired, long-awaited presidential assent and ensure that Nigerian youths are gainfully employed. It will be to the credit of himself and the entire All Progressives Congress (APC) government and it will also help in ensuring that APC will get votes from all and sundry in the next general election.
“We want to appeal to him and all the APC stalwarts to look into this matter with urgency to ensure that Nigerian youths will have something they can say they have benefited from the government, among so many other things that the President Buhari-led government has achieved in the recent past”, he said.
He also disclosed that the Corps and the Nigerian people have been very patient and the Bill has taken a very long time, adding that the National Unity and Peace Corps has been in existence for the past 30 years without sponsorship except contributions from members.
While thanking the Senate President, Ahmed Lawan, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila and the entire National Assembly leadership, he assured that once the Bill is signed, Nigerians will see a difference in the society, as the Corps will ensure that whatever assignment given to it by President Buhari will be delivered diligently.
Recall that the Bill has been in the National Assembly in the 6th, 7th, 8th and currently 9th Assembly. With the 8th Assembly, the bill was passed where the National Unity and Peace Corps and the Peace Corps of Nigeria were joined to form the Nigerian Peace Corps.
The Bill got to President Muhammadu Buhari but was declined assent on the grounds of paucity of funds and overlapping functions with existing security agencies. However, the bill was resuscitated and the current National Assembly handled the grey areas and successfully, on December 6, 2022 passed the final Bill of the Nigerian Peace Corps.
The Bill, among others, seeks to establish the Nigerian Peace Corps as a body charged with the responsibilities to develop, empower and provide gainful employment for youths, facilitate peace, volunteerism,, Community Services, Neighborhood Watch and Nation building.
According to part Vlll of the Bill passed, the Bill when assented to by President Buhari, would give statutory backing to the existing Peace Corps of Nigeria.
