Senate Rejects Call To Stop Peace Corp Bill

The Nigerian Senate has rejected calls to stop a bill legalizing the Peace Corps of Nigeria. The resolution was reached during plenary on Tuesday, May 2 after lawmakers in the upper of legislature debated on the matter. 

Senate referred the bill to Judiciary committee and mandating its committee to look into issues surrounding the corps.

Senator James Manager stood against the bill but Senator John Enoh supported the bill and wants it passed immediately. 

"The bill should be passed, it will serve as a means of employment for Nigerian youths," Senator Garba Binta submitted 

Senate Majority Leader Ahmed Lawan raised a point of order and stated that the reading stages have been passed and stopping the bill is no longer an option.

Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu urged caution

Bayero Nafada, chairman of the conference committee report on the peace crop bill, said the issue was not with the federal government but the police. He said until the senate passed the bill, the corps would not have legal backing. 

Senate President Bukola Saraki said we have to also look at the relationship with the green chamber but at the same time there are issues. “I think we should go with earlier suggestion, we are not stepping it down because of the court. We are going to consider the relationship with the other chamber and some of the issues raised here and the chairman judiciary will look into some of these issues and come back to us and hopefully some of the issues will be addressed.”

He however noted that the bill could be delayed while the House is briefed properly on what to do. Senate President Saraki also said the Senate should comply to proper guidelines and consider the stand and relationship of the green chamber on the matter. 

The matter was referred to Judiciary committee and is expected to report back in two weeks before legislative matters on the bill can continue.