‘Buhari’s non-assent to Peace Corps bill hasn’t been officially communicated’

Commandant of the Peace Corps of Nigeria, Dr. Dickson Akoh, has explained that President Muhammadu’s Buhari’s non-assent to the Peace Corps bill has not been officially communicated to the Senate.

Akoh, who spoke in Jos, said Senator Ita Enang, who is the President’s Adviser on National Assembly Matters, has also not said anything about it.

“So, for now, I cannot say whether Mr. President has assented or he hasn’t assented, because no statement has been made on it by the Presidency.

“Also, no letter has been formally transmitted to the Senate President or to the Clerk of the National Assembly,” he said.

He explained: “As far as I am concerned, I started the organisation in 1990 and it was registered under the Companies and Allied Matters Act in 1992.

“So, with that alone, Peace Corps is enjoying a legal entity. We can exist and operate anywhere in the country as the corps is duly registered in accordance with the laws of the land.

“Also, the Federal Ministry of Youth Development has accorded Peace Corps Federal Government’s recognition since 2004.

“What the bill is seeking is to just give statutory backing to the organization, so that some of the things that the youth will be privileged to benefit some of the things that they are entitled to.

Akoh said: “In a country where the chief enforcer of law is disobeying the order of court, and going to the same court to seek for protection, that means something is wrong with our rule of law.”