Senate approves Peace Corps Bill owner Dickson Akoh

The Senate has confirmed Professor Dickson Akoh, the National Commandant of the Nigerian Peace Corps, as the owner of the bill that the upper chamber, along with the House of Representatives, legislated on and sent to President Muhammadu Buhari for assent last month.

According to a statement signed by Senator Ali Ndume in his capacity as the Senate’s sponsor, the bill seeks an Act to establish the Nigerian Peace Corps, which was then considered, harmonised, and adopted by the two chambers of the National Assembly.

It also stated that any other group or individual claiming to be the Nigerian Peace Corps is breaking the law.

The Senate’s recognition of Dickson Akoh’s Peace Corps as the legitimate body that approached it and the House of Representatives for consideration and passage of the bill stemmed from claims made by one Mustapha that he is the owner of the bill.

“The attention of the leadership of the Senate and indeed the National Assembly has been drawn to different groups laying claims to the Bill for an Act to establish the Nigerian Peace Corps, which was harmonized and adopted by the two Chambers of the National Assembly,” Ndume said in a statement issued Thursday.

“The Bill, as passed by the two Chambers of the National Assembly, is solely sponsored by the current Nigerian Peace Corps, led by Prof. Dickson Akoh as National Commandant.”

“Since the Bill was transmitted to Mr. President for his assent by the Clerk of the National Assembly on April 12, 2023, the Senate has been inundated with several entreaties as to the status of the Bill, particularly the organization that seeks statutory backing after Mr. President’s assent to the Bill.”

“To clarify, Part VIII of the Bill, titled “Dissolution of the existing Peace Corps of Nigeria and Savings,” explicitly states that the existing Peace Corps of Nigeria will be dissolved and transmuted to the Nigerian Peace Corps at the start of the Act.” The implication is that the Bill only sought to provide statutory backing to Nigeria’s existing Peace Corps, led by Prof. Dickson Akoh.

“Also, the title of the proposed Nigerian Peace Corps’s head is National Commandant, as contained in Part III, Section 11(1) of the Bill as passed, rather than Commandant General, as widely speculated.”

“However, Section 38 (8) of the Bill made adequate provision to accommodate individuals, groups, associations, or bodies that have shown or demonstrated interest in being absorbed as members of the Corps shall be absorbed subject to the mandatory basic training and orientation program of the Corps as prescribed on the commencement of this Act.”

“It is important to note that this Bill will not take effect until Mr President signs it into law.” As a result, any group claiming to be the Nigerian Peace Corps is currently illegal.