BY Samuel Akpan
A bill seeking to establish the Nigeria Peace Corps passed its first reading at the house of house of representatives.
The bill was sponsored by Benjamin Kalu, deputy speaker of the house of representatives, during the plenary session on Thursday. It was passed by the 8th national assembly in 2018 but former President Muhammadu Buhari declined assent.
The bill also received stiff opposition from the police and the Department of State Services (DSS).
In 2017, the police alleged that “terrorist affiliates” had infiltrated the corps to “destroy the existing peace currently being enjoyed in the country”.
In 2018, when Buhari rejected the bill, he cited security concerns and the financial burden of funding the organisation.
Again, the bill was passed in the 9th assembly and sent to Buhari in April 2023, but the president did not approve the proposed legislation before he left office.
REPS RECOMMIT FAILED BILLS
The lower legislative chamber has commenced the process of recommitting bills that scaled through in the previous assembly but didn’t get presidential assent.
The bills were neither assented to by Buhari nor approved by President Bola Tinubu before the expiration of the preceding assembly.
Some of the bills include the Armed Forces Act (Amendment) Bill 2023, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Act (Amendment) Bill 2023, ECOWAS Convention on Small Arms and Light Weapons, their Ammunition and Other Related Materials (Ratification and Enforcement) Bill 2023, Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences (Amendment) Bill 2023, and Defense Industries Corporation of Nigeria (Repeal and Enactment) Bill, 2023, among others.
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