Hope Is Not Lost On Peace Corps As House Of Reps Passes Bill Again.

Peace Corps Bill passes third reading at House of Reps again

The 9th House of Representatives on Wednesday passed the Peace Corps Bill.

The bill passed third reading at the House's plenary, which was presided over by the Speaker, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila, in Abuja.

 Its long title reads, "A Bill for an Act to Establish Nigerian Peace Corps to facilitate Peace, Volunteerism, Community Services, Neighbourhood Watch and Nation Building; and for Related Matters (HB. 17)."

Recall that the bill had generated interest and controversy since 2017.

Security agencies, including the police and the Department of State Services were against the bill on the grounds that the Peace Corps would duplicate their duties.

In the 8th Assembly, it was passed by both arms of the National Assembly, but it failed to secure President Muhammadu Buhari's assent. The President cited insufficient funds as one of the reasons he withheld his signature.

An attempt by the 8th House, then under former Speaker Yakubu Dogara to override the presidential veto failed, as the majority of members eventually rejected the bill.

However, following parliamentary convention, the bill was reintroduced by the 9th House, which ensured its passage on Wednesday under the watch of Speaker Gbajabiamila.

A strong argument supporting the bill has been that the corps will complement the services of the existing security agencies, considering the manpower and other challenges they face.

Wednesday's third reading of the bill by the House means that it will begin another journey to the State House for the President's assent after securing the mandatory concurrence of the Senate.