Over time, controversies have surrounded the establishment of Peace Corps of Nigeria (PCN); a Non-Governmental Organization, aimed at promoting, empowering and economically developing Nigerian youths.
From being rejected by existing paramilitary agencies to the closing of its headquarters in Abuja by the Nigerian Police and arresting of its Commandant, Ambassador Dickson Akoh, to several clashes with the Police and the latest being President Muhammadu Buhari’s refusal to assent to the Peace Corps Bill.
Before passing the Senate
The Bill sought to give legal backing to the establishment of Peace Corps as a Government parastatal, and allow all serving members of the Peace Corps of Nigeria, both regular and volunteers, to be absolved into the proposed organisation at commencement. It’s passage at the House of Representatives and the Senate was not hitch-free as questions were raised regarding its powers and functions.
In the report represented by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, David Umaru, stated that
“The creation of jobs through this platform is laudable but this can be achieved by strengthening existing agencies and not necessarily creating a new one so as not to overburden the Federal Government; and that the Committee noted that the House of Representatives has adopted the Conference Report and the need for reciprocity.”
The reports further reads that the operations of an organization like the Peace Corps in other jurisdictions, particularly in the United States, the American Peace Corps, which is used as a model does not operate as a permanent and pensionable employment as intended in Nigeria under this proposed legislation.
Senate Minority Leader, Godswill Akpabio, also claimed that passing the Bill is legitimising illegitimacy, describing it as “making a law to legalise MMM”.
“Honestly speaking my submission will be to support the earlier speakers, it is better for us to tread on the path of caution; when you talk about Para-Military Organisation, we may be adding to insecurity in the nation. Vetting and other things have to be done before we start putting uniform on people and giving ranks.”
He revealed that some members of PCN who pride themselves as Field Marshals have not gone to any war and he had seen them in public functions where the youths use their clothes to clean the seats for the Commandant-General.
“If an individual wants to empower youths he can do that through a foundation. He does not need a law from the National Assembly. I would suggest that the appropriate thing to do is to step it down. Controversies are too many. Remember when we started with the civil defence, they were not meant to carry arms but many years later they started carrying arms.”
From Agencies
The PCN Bill was reportedly rejected by some Ministries, Departments, and Agencies when it was still at the Committee level in the Senate.
It was reported that the Head of Service of the Federation opposed the bill due to the Country’s already expanded public service.
It also urged the lawmakers to consider the implications of the proposed creation of Nigerian Peace Corps on the cost of Governance and duplication of duties of existing agencies.
The Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), was also alleged to be in opposition of the Bill, but it debunked the allegations, stating that the services of Peace Corps officers were needed at the moment due to inadequate security operatives to combat the criminal activities in Nigeria.
Shutting down of its Headquarters
On February 28, the Nigerian Army, Police and the SSS in a coordinated mission stormed the Peace Corps’ head office in Abuja, arresting Mr. Akoh and his officials. They then shut down the Corps headquarters. The next day, the police paraded Mr. Akoh and his officials, 49 in total, and accused them of running an outlawed organisation with intent to perpetrate fraud and jeopardise national security.
The Police said a 2013 “official gazette” of the Nigerian Government “dissolved and proscribed illegal security outfits” which included the Peace Corps.
Court Order
In November, Federal High Court, sitting in Abuja ordered the Police to unseal the PCN headquarters and to pay N12.5 million as damages for unlawful invasion.
After the Court’s judgment, the Peace Corps members who arrived at the building the following week were denied entry at the gate by the Police, claiming that they are yet to get a directive to leave the premises.
Danlami Taura, a Chief Superintendent of Police, who led the Policemen, said the operation department of the force has not been served with the court order to unseal the place.
He further said there was no need to allow them to enter the building if they will not be able to work in the offices.
In January, Court declared the continuous sealing of the headquarters of Peace Corps of Nigeria in Abuja by the Police as “an act of illegality”.
Delivering his ruling on the application by the police to seal the already sealed Peace Corps Office, Mr. Tsoho, on Monday declared that the applicant was seeking an order to “legalise the illegality” they had committed 11 months ago.
Mr. Tsoho berated the Police for not approaching the court to seek an order to seal the Peace Corps office before placing it under lock and keys.
The Judge, therefore, declared the continuous siege to the office as illegal and ordered that the office be unsealed forthwith.
In February, House of Representatives Committee on Public Petitions directed the police to vacate the headquarters of the Peace Corps of Nigeria in Abuja which had been sealed by its operatives.
The panel gave this directive at a public hearing, after deliberating on a petition written to the House of Representatives by Coalition of Civil Society Organisations for Justice and Equity in January.
Why President Buhari did not assent the Bill
In the letter titled ‘PRESIDENTIAL DECISION TO DECLINE ASSENT TO NIGERIAN PEACE CORPS (ESTABLISHMENT) BILL 2017 RECENTLY PASSED BY THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY’, which was read by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, the President cited security concerns, financial implications and duplication of duties.
Reacting, the Commandant of the Corps, Dickson Akoh, said the President’s decision was expected as “a there is a conspiracy against Nigerian youth”.
“Let me tell you, on 15th of January, the same security agencies that opposed the bill went to Mr. President and told him that instead of voting money to create a new establishment, they should use it to improve the efficiency of their own activities.”
