PARA-MILITARY STATUS: OGUN PEACE CORPS ROLLS OUT DRUM TO CELEBRATE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY PASSAGE OF BILL
Nigeria Peace Corps, Ogun State Command on Wednesday openly exhibited their joy over the National Assembly passage of bill of authenticating the agency status as paramilitary in the country.
The members rolled rolled out drums in celebration of the cheering news at the corps Headquarters located in Asero area of Abeokuta,the state capital.
The joyful members were seen with various placards to express appreciation to the federal lawmakers. Some of the placards reads,’Peace Corps Appreciates Senate and House of Representatives for the Final Passage of Nigeria Peace Corps Bill’, among others.
Our correspondent who witnessed the mood report that,members of the corps which include, prospective candidates who had earlier underwent training before the sudden hitches about the passage, were seen dancing round the headquarters in appreciation of the development.
It would be recalled that the adoption of the conference report on the bill to establish the Nigerian Peace Corps was done on Tuesday by the Senate.
The Ogun State Commandant of the Corps,Patriot Yusuff Olalekan while speaking commended the Senate and the House of Representatives for their commitment to youth empowerment and national development.
Olalekan who was accompanied by his deputies in charge of Administration and Operations to address the officers said the adoption came after the findings and recommendations of the Senate committee on judiciary, human rights and legal matters.
He recalled that both the Senate and the House of Representatives had separately passed the bill last year, before the conference Committee of both chambers was inaugurated on 8th of December, 2016, to harmonise the Bill passed at different levels.
The corps boss explained further that, while members of the House of Representatives laid and adopted its report on the 19th of January, 2017, the Senate only laid the report, but deferred its adoption due to some critical issues raised.
He added that it was also resolved that a committee should critically review the ongoing face-off between the Corps and other agencies and advise the Senate appropriately.
Olalekan said the outcome of the Committee’s report which was adopted has exonerated the National Commandant of the Corps, Dickson Akoh from all baseless allegations against him and proved that he is the legitimate leader of the Corps.
‘After considering the issues raised by the Senate, it was resolved in May, 2017, that the David Umaru led committee should critically review the ongoing imbroglio of the Corps and other agencies and advise the Senate appropriately and the result is what we have witnessed today’.
Also in his remark, Deputy Commandants in charge of Administration,Olufemi Akinyemi assured Nigerians that the Corps will not derail from providing quality services to people in terms of youth reorientation and development, facilitation of peaceful atmosphere and community services.
‘Parts of our mandate is to develop, empower and provide gainful employment to the youths, in order to facilitate Peace, Community Services, Neighbourhood Watch, Nation-building and other related matters and I assure that we continue to do all these for the development of our country’,he stated
He,however, emphasised that,the Corps, according to the Consolidated Bill, shall also be domiciled with the Federal Ministry of Youths and Sports development.
Meanwhile,with the adoption of the Conference Committee report, the Bill is now set to be transmitted to the Presidency, for assent.
