News Post

The Senate on Thursday, November 24, 2016 passed into law “Nigerian Peace Corps Bills, 2016 (S.B. 173 & 183)”, sponsored by Sen. Bayero Usman Nafada (Gombe North). The two Bills were consolidated into one during the second reading debate and were referred to the Senate Committee on Interior for further legislative inputs.

The passage of the Bills into law followed the presentation of their Report by the Senate Committee on Interior led by Sen. Nafada before the Red Chamber for consideration. According to the law-maker, the Committee in the course of legislative scrutiny of the legislations received 219 memoranda from various stakeholders; some of which were presented during the Public Hearing of the Bills conducted by the Committee.

Sen. Nafada added that the Bill seeks to provide legal backing to the Nigerian Peace Corps which has been operating for some years in the country without the necessary legal backing establishing it. In addition, it sought to empower, develop and provide alternative employment opportunities to Nigerian youths between the ages of 18 and 35. 

Commenting on the Bill, Sen. Samuel Anyanwu and Sen. Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi commended members of the Senate Committee on Interior for the extensive work they did on the Bill which is responsible for the massive support it enjoyed when it was presented for consideration. They asserted that considering the complexity of security issues in Nigeria, the establishment of Nigerian Peace Corps becomes imperative in securing the country and also provide employment opportunity for the teeming youths which will on the other hand reduce crime rate and anti-social vices.

Accordingly, the Senate resolved into the Committee of the Whole for clause by clause consideration. In fact, clauses 1 – 41, Short and Long Titles, Schedules 1 and 2 and Memorandum of Understanding of the Bill were approved as recommended or amended. Afterwards, the legislation scaled through third reading and passed when it was put on voice vote by the Senate President, Bukola Saraki.  

Similarly, the Upper Legislative Chamber has adopted the recommendations of its Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions when it considered the Report of the Committee on the following petitions investigated:

a) Petition from Engineer Charles Ambaiowei against the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports over payment reversal of Thirty One Million, Six Hundred and Sixty Six Naira, Sixty six Kobo only to his Company’s Account for a duly completed contract.

b) Petition from Mr. Akinnigbagbe Akinniyi against National Insurance Commission for alleged unlawful termination of his appointment.

c) Petition from Mrs Oluwafemi fakiyesi and one other against the Nigerian Navy over the sudden death of Lt. Commander Oluwafemi Fakiyesi while on duty.