He House of Representatives has adopted the report of the conference committee on the Peace Corps bill.
The House Committee of the Whole on Thursday considered the report submitted by Ibrahim Babangida (NNPP, Katsina) and adopted the recommendations.
The lower house had approved the bill in December 2022. However, there were differences in the versions approved by the House and the Senate.
Consequently, the two houses of the National Assembly established the harmonization committee to address the differences.
The members of the House Conference Committee are Babangida, Tijani Ismail (APC, Kwara), Chinedu Ogah (APC, Ebonyi), Ibrahim Potiskum (APC, Yobe), Abdulmumini Ari (APC, Nasarawa) and Legor Idegbo (PDP, Cross River).
Members of the Senate are Kashim Shettima (APC, Borno) President, Abba Moro (PDP, Borno), Betty Apiafi (PDP, Rivers), Oriolowo Adelere (APC, Osun), Eyinnaya Abaribe (APGA, Abia) and Seriake Dickson (PDP , Bayelsa).
The Senate version of section 38 of the bill calls for the disbandment of the existing Nigerian Peace Corps and National Unity and Peace Corps. But the House version envisions the transformation of the existing Peace Corps into the new entity.
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Presenting the synopsis of the report, Mr. Babangida stated that the harmonization committee met and resolved to follow the House’s position on section 38.
“The conference committee met with the senators and the resolution was that the House version be adopted,” he said.
Section 38(8) of the Bill provides a window of opportunity for persons, groups, associations or bodies showing or proving interest in being absorbed into the Corps to be absorbed subject to the mandatory basic training and orientation program of the Corps. as may be prescribed from time to time when the bill becomes law.
Both chambers of the National Assembly must approve the bill before it is transmitted to the president for his assent.
The Peace Corps Bill was approved by the 8th Assembly in late 2017, but President Muhammadu Buhari rejected passage of the legislation in February 2018, citing security concerns as one of the reasons for his decision.
He also cited insufficient funding and the proposed body’s duplication of functions of existing security agencies as other reasons for rejecting approval.
