Breaking: Peace Corps bill dies as Reps refuse to veto Buhari

Breaking: Peace Corps bill dies as Reps refuse to veto Buhari

- Hope of reviving the Peace Corps bill seems to have been dashed as House of Representatives refused to veto President Buhari

- Buhari had refused to sign it into law after it was passed by the National Assembly

- He had cited security concerns and financial burden of funding the organisation in declining assent

The House of Representatives has dashed any hope of reviving the Peace Corps bill as the bill failed to pass the second reading on Thursday, May 24.

President Muhammadu Buhari had refused to sign it into law after it was passed by the National Assembly.

In response, some lawmakers had planned to veto the president’s rejection of the bill which was sponsored by Emmanuel Orker-Jev (APC, Benue).

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Explaining his reasons for withholding assent, Buhari wrote a letter to the House of Representatives on the issue.

Buhari cited security concerns and financial burden of funding the organisation by the government as his reasons for rejecting the bill.

According to the president, given “scarce government resources”, funding the organisation will be a financial burden on the federal government.

Furthermore, Buhari said that the organisation was a duplication of existing security agencies.

He said the bill seeks to empower the Peace Corps to undertake activities currently being performed by extant security and law enforcement agencies.

The National Assembly passed the Peace Corps Bill in 2017, after a prolonged battle involving the organisation and the nation’s security agencies.

The bill has been widely anticipated by many Nigerians, especially the youth who believe creation of the corps will reduce unemployment.

Stakeholders, including Senator Mao Ohuabunwa, had assured Nigerians that Buhari would sign the bill

The bill was submitted to the presidency for assent on December 27, 2017.

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The lawmaker also emphasised that the National Assembly could exercise its constitutional powers to override the president should if he refused to assent to the bill.

NAIJ.com had reported that the Emir of Daura, His Royal Highness, Alhaji (Dr) Umar Farouk Umar, appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to rescind his decision on the Nigerian Peace Corps (Establishment) Bill.

Alhaji Umar is the paramount ruler of the community where President Buhari hails from in Katsina state.

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Source: Legit.ng

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