House of Reps passes Peace Corps bill once more

Tuesday saw the House of Representatives pass a bill creating the Nigeria Peace Corps.

In essence, the Corps’ role is to promote neighbourhood and community security and harmony.

You may recall that the Nigerian Peace Corps Establishment Bill 2016 was approved by the National Assembly’s House and Senate in 2017.

However, President Muhammad Buhari refused to sign the Bill, claiming that there was insufficient funding for such an organization and that it would duplicate the work of traditional security organizations.

The Bill was reintroduced and re-gazetted as House Bill in July 2019.

The Chief Whip, Hon. Tahir Monguno of Borno State, sponsored it.

In his opening statement, Mongunu highlighted Order 12, Rule 16 of the House’s Standing Orders, which said that a bill enacted by the previous Assembly might be examined in the Committee of the Whole without having to start again.

As a result, after taking the findings into account and adopting it, the House passed the law.

In a related development, the House also approved a Bill to Enact the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants, and Internally Displaced Persons Act for the Management, Rehabilitation, Return, Reintegration, and Resettlement of Refugees, Migrants, and Victims of Displacement in place of the National Commission for Refugees Act, Cap. N21 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

A Bill for an Act to Amend the Federal Polytechnics Act, Cap. F17, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, sponsored by Hon. Aminu Suleiman of Kano State also made it through the second reading to make room for the newly established Federal Polytechnics.

The House also recommitted the Specialized National Dermatology Hospital Bill, 2022, the National Commission for Colleges of Education Bill, 2022, and the Nigerian Institute of Leather and Science Technology Bill, 2022 (HB. 444) for reconsideration.

They were unfinished legislation from the 8th Assembly.