The Nigerian Peace Corps Bill is approved by the National Assembly

 On December 7, 2022, the two chambers of the National Assembly passed the Nigerian Peace Corps (NPC), Establishment Bill, for the second time.

The Chief Whip, Hon. Mohammed Monguno, sponsored HB17 in the House of Representatives, while Senator Ali Ndume, Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Army, sponsored the bill in the Senate.

All is now prepared for the clerk of the National Assembly to send the measure to President Muhammadu Buhari for his approval following the bill's resounding passage on its merits.

The law, among other things, aims to create the Nigerian Peace Corps, a group tasked with the duties of fostering peace, volunteerism, community service, neighborhood watch, and nation-building, as well as developing, empowering, and providing gainful employment for youngsters.

When President Buhari assents to the measure, Part Vll of the signed legislation would provide the current Peace Corps of Nigeria formal support.

The Nigerian Peace Corps, which was founded more than 24 years ago by Professor Dickson Ameh Akoh as National Commandant, is a legal entity registered in Nigeria under the Company and Allied Matters Act (CAMA), and it has received federal government recognition through the Federal Ministry of Youth Development.

The United Nations granted the corps Special Consultative Status in 2011 and the African Union gave it the same status in 2016. As a result, the corps is now a member of both the Social and Economic Councils of the United Nations and the African Union. The organization's value-driven programs, which focused on the socioeconomic empowerment of Nigerian youths, and its significant contributions to peace-building and advocacy earned the corps this status.

The organization currently has a well-organized network of offices in all 36 Federal Republic of Nigerian States and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), with a total membership of over 187,000 people, including both paid employees and volunteers.

The corps and its national commander have won more than 110 national and international accolades for the organization's historic successes so far.

National Commandant (Prof.) Dickson Ameh Akoh congratulated the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, and Senate President, Dr. Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan, for deeming the measure deserving of passage and updating journalists on the most recent development.

Professor Akoh also expressed gratitude to the members of the National Assembly's two houses for their feeling of patriotism in ensuring that the measure was passed.

He urged President Muhammadu Buhari to sign the law this time as a lasting testament to his administration and a worthy farewell present for the young of Nigeria.

The national commandant clarified that all the murky areas that impeded the assent in 2016 had been cleared up, and he further stated that there would be no conflict between the corps and any of the current security agencies.

“The best gift to the Nigerian youth from President Buhari is to give assent to the Bill and as a youth-friendly President, we are deeply optimistic that Mr President will do the needful this time around.

“No amount of resources committed to youth development in this country, especially in the face of insecurity, poverty and lack of employment, is a waste. Peace Corps is not just being conceived, it has offices all over the country,” Akoh said.