The Senate on Tuesday passed the controversial Nigerian Peace Corps bill, following the adoption of a conference report on the bill.
The House of Representatives passed the bill last year, but the Senate had initially rejected the bill due to what it described as contentious issues contained in the bill
The passage followed recommendation by the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, chaired by Senator David Umaru (APC Niger East).
Presenting the report, Umaru said: “The issues raised by the distinguished senators at the plenary are fundamental and they go to the root of the corps operations which are subject to litigation.
“The operation of peace corps in other jurisdictions, particularly in the United States, the American peace corps, as it is called, used a model that does not operate as a permanent and a pensionable employment as intended in Nigeria.
“Arising from the presentation made by stakeholders and following from my observations and findings, the Senate committee on judiciary, human rights and legal matters, the Senate may wish to consider the conference committee report on the peace corps bill 2017.’
Also, Senator Bayero Nafada (APC Gombe North), advised his colleagues to go ahead with the passage of the bill, since issues between the corps and the Nigeria Police had been resolved.
Nafada said: “It was about the issue between the Peace Corps commandant and the Nigeria Police and it has been sorted out by the chairman of the judiciary committee.”
