The House of Representatives has described the Nigerian Peace Corps (NPC) as an effective tool towards curbing insurgency, kidnapping and other social vices in the country.
According to the lawmakers, while passing the bill for second reading, if passed into law, the Corps also has the capacity to provide alternative employment for Nigerian youths, facilitate peace, community services and nation building.
The lawmakers pointed out that what aide the passage of the bill was the capacity of the Corps to assist the military and para – military organization in arresting security challenges.
Sponsor of the bill, Abdullahi Faruk, in his lead debate said the bill sought to provide civic and patriotic training as well as alternative employment.
“If passed into law, the NPC will provide positive engagement of the youths with a view to pre-occupy them in ventures that would make them economically productive to themselves and larger society.
“Currently in Nigeria, we are investing a lot of energies and resources to contain the menace of insurgency, militancy, kidnapping, vandalism, armed robbery, political thuggery, drug trafficking, prostitution, suicide bombing, cattle rustling and a host of other social vices.
“These vices no doubt constitute social challenges that have retrogressive effects and implications on the economic development and security of the nation.
“This bill seeks to give statutory functions to the existing peace corps of Nigeria which currently has over 98,000 members with well structured network of branches in 34 states of the federation including the Federal Capital Territory and observing adequately all its stated functions, and achievement of no small measure for an NGO.”
The Nigerian Peace Corps was established 17 years ago alongside the Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC).
The bill successfully scaled second reading after it was put to a voice vote by the Speaker, Yakubu Dogara.
