The Nigerian Peace Corps Establishment Bill, earlier passed by the House of Representatives on 29 February, 2024 and transmitted to the Senate for concurrence was read on the floor of the Senate and passed through first reading.
With this development, a motion for concurrence to be sponsored by the Senate Leader, Sen. Micheal Opeyemi Bamidele (Ekiti Central) will come up shortly to enable the Senate adopt the Bill in line with the extant rules of the National Assembly.
The Peace Corps of Nigeria established over 25 years ago by the National Commandant, Dr Dickson Akoh, is incorporated in Nigeria under the Company and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) and accorded the Federal Government recognition through the Federal Ministry of Youth Development and granted license to operate in the Country as a non-governmental organisation by the Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning.
The bill was passed in the 8th Assembly but could not get presidential assent.
Aside the Peace Corps Bill, the Senate also passed for first reading, Nigerian Hunters and Security Service Bill 2024, Legislative Houses (Powers & Privileges Act (Amendment) Bill 2024 and National Talent Rehabilitation and Integration Agency (Establishment) Bill 2024.
Others are Agricultural Research Council Act (Amendment) Bill 2024 and Agricultural Harvest and Processing Zone (Establishment) bill 2024.