Critical stakeholders on youth development in the country on Thursday in Abuja, called on the Senate to speed up the passage of the bill for an act to establish the Nigerian Peace Corps for development of youths in Nigeria.
The stakeholders claimed that the bill was passed by the House of Representatives in February 2024 and had since been transmitted to the Senate for concurrence.
At a media briefing in Abuja, the stakeholders lamented that the bill has since remained with the Senate awaiting its 3rd reading and final passage.
According to the stakeholders, the bill when passed by the Senate and assented to by President Bola Tinubu, will formally institutionalize Peace Corps operations and unlock the full potential of its contributions to peace building and national security.
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation SGF, Senator George Akume spoke through Mr Francis Ihema, a Director in the SGF’s office at the occasion.
Among those who also made the appeal are Dr Jonathan Onoja Isaac, Dr Ibrahim Amendur, Dr Okeha Michael, and the Minister of Youth Development, represented Abdulbasit Abdul.
According to them, the time has come for the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio to bring the bill forward and fast-track its passage in the interest of youth development to enable the youth contribute meaningfully to the social and economic development of the country.
Also speaking at the occasion, National Commandant of Peace Corps, Ambassador Dickson Akoh expressed worry by the worsening state of insecurity confronting the country, which according to him, is largely driven by the consequences of widespread youth unemployment and socio-economic exclusion.
“Meanwhile, we are deeply concerned by the stark reality that idle and disillusioned youths often become easy recruits for terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, and other criminal activities.
“It is therefore critical that the nation adopts a more strategic, inclusive and multi-sectoral approach to security, one that recognizes the role of youth empowerment in preventing violence and building peace.
“This is where the Peace Corps of Nigeria can and indeed must play a more strategic and complementary role. With our nationwide structure and disciplined pool of trained officers and men who are majorly youth, we are uniquely positioned to serve the nation in multiple capacities: as a reservoir of individual response reservists, as a platform for profiling, re-orienting, and preparing young Nigerians for future enlistment into the military and paramilitary agencies; and as an emergency deployment force, ready to support national assignments, civic interventions, and security reinforcement at a short notice.
“Besides, the organization has its presence in all communities in Nigeria, which makes the Corps to be well positioned to embark on surveillance, gather local intelligence and transmit findings on matters that may likely breach peace and security to the conventional security agencies for swift and rapid response.
“It is therefore, on this note that I want to make a passionate appeal to the Nigerian Senate, and indeed the Senate President, His Excellency, Sen. (Dr) Godswill Akpabio to do the needful by facilitating the swift passage of this vital legislation.
“Its enactment would not only be a landmark achievement for the nation but also the most cherished 27th Anniversary gift to the dedicated officers and men of the Peace Corps of Nigeria across the country”, he said.