The Senate on Thursday has affirmed the National Commandant of Peace Corps of Nigeria, Professor Dickson Akoh , as the owner of the bill , it along with the House of Representatives , legislated upon and transmitted to President Muhammadu Buhari for assent last month .
The bill as stated in a statement signed by Senator Ali Ndume in his capacity as the sponsor in the Senate , seeks for an Act to establish the Nigerian Peace Corps which was accordingly considered , harmonised and adopted by the two chambers of the National Assembly .
Affirmation of Dickson Akoh led Peace Corps by the Senate as the authentic body that approached it and the House of Representatives for consideration and passage of the bill , arose from claims being made by one Mustapha that he is the owner of the bill .
The statement reads : “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 ran Act to establish the Nigerian Peace Corps which was harmonized and adopted by the two Chambers of the National Assembly.
“The Bill as passed by the two Chambers of the National Assembly is solely sponsored by the current Peace Corps of Nigeria under the headship of Prof. Dickson Akoh as the National Commandant.
“Since the Bill was transmitted to Mr President for his assent by the Clerk of the National Assembly on the 12th April, 2023, the Senate has been inundated with several entreaties as to the status of the Bill, especially the Organization that is sought to give statutory backing after Mr President’s assent to the Bill.
“It is important to say that effect cannot be given to this Bill until same is assented into Law by Mr President. Therefore, any group laying claim and parading itself as Nigerian Peace Corps for now is illegal.
