President Muhammadu Buhari says duplication of functions and lack of funds were the reasons behind his refusal to sign the Peace Corps bill into law.
In a letter read by Yakubu Dogara , Speaker of the House of Representatives, during plenary, on Tuesday, the President said: “Pursuant to section 58 (4) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended, I here by convey to the House of Representatives my decision on the 25 January 2018, to decline Presidential assent to the Nigeria Peace Corps Establishment bill 2017, recently passed by the National Assembly”.
Buhari said “Specifically, reasons for the decision to decline the assent to this bill include, amongst others; Security concerns regarding the proposed Nigerian Peace Corps being authorized to undertake activities currently being performed by extant security and law enforcement agencies; financial implications of funding the establishment and operations of the Peace Corps, given the scarce resources may pose serious challenge to the government.”
The the Peace Corps Establishment bill had over the last few months generated hot debate among lawmakers and the general Nigerian populace.
Some people spoke in favour of the bill saying it would generate employment for the teeming unemployed youths in the face of rising unemployment while others pitched their tents on the side of the President, stating that the meagre resources could be allocated to the already existing security structure to enable them deliver better results, instead of creating another agency with the same functions.
