Senate Passes Peace Corps Bill

The Senate on Tuesday passed the Nigerian Peace Corps bill.

The bill if approved by President Muhammadu Buhari will make the Corps a para-military agency.

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The Red Chamber adopted the conference report on the bill after it was advised by the committee on judiciary, human rights and legal matters led by Senator David Umaru.

Both the Senate and the House of Representatives passed the bill last year, but the Upper Chamber had rejected the harmonised version, which was finally passed today (Tuesday).

The bill will be sent to the president for assent.

The Nigeria Police which is an agency in the Presidency is reportedly against the legislation of the Peace Corps as a para-military agency.

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Recall that in March, the police, in a joint operation with the military and Department of State Services (DSS), raided the Peace Corps office, arresting its leader Dickson Akor and 49 others.

Parading the Peace Corps commandant, and others arrested at the Force Headquarters, in Abuja, the Force Public Relations Officer, Jimoh Moshood, said they were arrested to halt and rid the country of illegal/unlawful security outfits constituting national security threats and threats to the protection of life and property across the country.

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