Peace Corps bill fails as reps refuse to override Buhari

The house of representatives has rejected the Peace Corps bill.

The bill had been passed by the national assembly but President Muhammadu Buhari rejected it.

The lawmakers had vowed to override the president. But the attempt to override him failed after it was put to a voice vote by Yakubu Dogara, speaker of the house of representatives, on Thursday.

Before it was put to vote, Emmanuel Oker-Jev, sponsor of the bill, argued that the services of the corps would compliment the activities of other security agencies.

“Apart from the jobs that would be crested through the establishment of Peace Corps, it will compliment the activities of other security agencies like police and civil Defence to maintain law ad order in the country,” the lawmaker from Benue said.

Rimande Shawulu, lawmaker from Taraba, also spoke in favour of the bill, saying there was need for the establishment of the corps to assist other security agencies.

“There is need for us to bridge the gap in internal security. Actually there’s a very wide gap in policing of this country,” Shawulu, who is chairman house committee on army, said.

“There are too many ungoverned in Nigeria and there are too many black spots in Nigeria. Nigeria also lacks adequate manpower that could assist the security agencies in intelligence gathering.”

Ossai Nicholas Ossai, a lawmaker from Delta, kicked against the bill saying: “At least for the first time, I am praising Mr President.”

“The rejection by Mr President gives us the opportunity to redeem ourselves for passing the bill in the first place.”

The corps has received stiff opposition from the police and the Department of State Services (DSS).

Since last year, the police have occupied its headquarters in Abuja, refusing to vacate the office despite different court orders.