The Nigerian senate has constituted a six-member conference committee to finalise its legislative work on the Nigerian Peace Corps Bill.
Members of the Committee are;
1.Senator Kashim Shettima, Chairman.
- Senator Abba Moro; member.
- Senator Betty Apiafi; Member.
- Senator Oriolowo Adelere; member
- Senator Eyinnaya Abaribe; member, and
- Senator Seriake Dickson; member.
The Conference Committee members are expected to look at discrepancies and harmonize them with their counterparts from the House of Representatives, before forwarding the clean copy of the Bill to the Presidency.
It will be recalled that the Nigeria Peace Corps (NPC) Establishment Bill passed in 2022 by the two Chambers was sponsored by the Chairman, Senate Committee on the Nigerian Army, Senator Ali Ndume while that of the House of Representatives was sponsored by the Chief Whip, Mr. Mohammed Monguno.
The Bill seeks to establish the Nigerian Peace Corps as a body charged with the responsibility to develop, empower and provide gainful employment to youths, facilitate peace, volunteerism, Community Service, Neighborhood Watch and Nation building.
According to part Vlll of the passed Bill, when assented to by President Buhari, would give statutory backing to the existing Peace Corps of Nigeria.
The Peace Corps of Nigeria established over 24 years ago under the National Commandant, Professor Dickson Akoh is Incorporated in Nigeria under the Company and Allied Matters (CAMA) Act and accorded the Federal Government recognition through the Federal Ministry of Youth Development.
Due to the value driven programs of the Corps, aimed at the socio-economic empowerment of the Nigerian youths and its contributions to peace building and advocacy, the United Nations in 2011 accorded the organization a Special Consultative Status while the African Union in 2016 accorded same status to the organization, thereby making it a member of the Social and Economic Councils of both the United Nations and the African Union.
So far, the organization has a well-structured network of offices in the 36 States of Nigeria and the Federal Capital Territory FCT. It has a membership strength of over 187,000 comprising of both regular staff and volunteers.
Second Reading of Bills
In other developments, Senate also on Wednesday, read for the second time, a Bill to establish the National Research Institute for Chemical Technology. The purpose of the bill is to provide globally competitive & environmentally friendly innovative research & development in the processing & conversion of indigenous raw material into valuable chemicals & petrochemical products.
Also read for the second time, was a Bill seeking to provide legal framework to establish the Federal Medical Centre in Uli, Anambra state south eastern Nigeria.
