Reps ignore NSCDC opposition, pass peace corps bill

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John Ameh, Abuja

The House of Representatives has ignored protests by security agencies, particularly the Nigeria Police and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, to pass a bill to establish the Nigeria Peace Corps.

The Votes and Proceedings of the House, which The PUNCH obtained in Abuja on Sunday, showed that lawmakers endorsed the 45-clause report on the bill, setting it up for concurrence by the Senate.

 

“The bill sailed through on Thursday, last week; a new organisation legally-backed by the Federal Government is underway.

“All that is left is conccurrence by the Senate and the signature of President Muhammadu Buhari,” a senior National Assembly official told The PUNCH on Sunday.

The bill was sponsored by an All Progressives Congress lawmaker from Kebbi State, Mr. Abdullahi Umar-Farouk.

However, during the public hearing held on the bill by the House Committee on Interior, the police, NSCDC and other security agencies vehemently opposed the idea of legalising the peace corps.

They claimed that they would duplicate the duties of existing agencies.

But, the report of the committee to the House indicated otherwise.

The report, which was defended by the Chairman of the committee, Mr. Jagaba Adams-Jagaba, stated that majority of the stakeholders, who presented memoranda at the hearing, supported the corps.

According to him, “90 memoranda” were received on the Peace Corps Bill, besides other contributions from members of the public.

The report noted that, apart from the police and the NSCDC especially, the stakeholders generally expressed support for the bill.

“Stakeholders were unanimous in their support for the Nigeria Peace Corps, saying when established, it would complement efforts of other security agencies and enhance youth empowerment,” it added.

The NSCDC had received formal government recognition in similar circumstances under the tenure of former President Olusegun Obasanjo between 1999 and 2007.

Prior to receiving the Federal Government’s backing to draw allocation from its annual budget, the NSCDC had existed as a voluntary organisation for many years.

The NSCDC also later fought a long battle with the police over it bid to have its personnel carry arms.

At the time, the police had also opposed the coming of the NSCDC, citing the same reasons it has cited in respect of the peace corps.

The NSCDC also fought a long battle with the police over it bid to have its personnel carry arms.

It later secured a legislative backing to carry light weapons for some categories of the personnel.

This time round, the NSCDC joined the police in opposing the recognition of the peace corps, which likely to be a major rival.

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