National Assembly moves to return Peace Corps Bill, others to Tinubu for assent

Again, the National Assembly is reconsidering the Peace Corps Establishment Bill, alongside 43 other aimed at ensuring the assent of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The Bills were passed by the 9th Assembly but were neither assented to nor assent withheld by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu before the expiration of the preceding Assembly.

The Bills which enjoyed the support of the 9th National Assembly was retransmitted to President Tinubu for his assent through a letter dated 8th June 2023 and signed by the Clerk to the National Assembly, Sani Magaji Tambawal.

The proposed legislations became statute – barred for presidential assent on the 13th of June 2023 when the 10th National Assembly was inaugurated since it was passed by the 9th Assembly.

The Bills includes the Armed Forces Act (Amendment) Bill 2023, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Act (Amendment) Bill 2023, ECOWAS Convention on Small Arms and Light Weapons, their Ammunition and other Related Materials (Ratification and Enforcement) Bill 2023, Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences (Amendment) Bill 2023.

Others are the Defense Industries Corporation of Nigeria (Repeal and Enactment) Bill, 2023, Federal Polytechnic, Nyak-Shendam (Establishment) Bill, Nigeria Police Force College Training School and Institution (Establishment) Bill, 2023, National Library of Nigeria (Establishment) Bill, 2023, Federal Medical Centers Act (Amendment) Bill, 2023 etc.

These Bills are expected to enjoy expeditious passage in the both Chambers of the National Assembly as consideration of the Bills will not commence de-novo.

The House leader, Prof Julius Ihonvbere who came under Order 12, Rule 16 of the Standing Orders of the House, hinted that the bills would re-gazetted and be re-considered expeditiously.

The Deputy Speaker of the House, Hon Benjamin Kalu who presided over the session, commended Ihonvbere for his foresight in coming up with the motion which according to him, was to cure instances, where bills were passed by previous assemblies but were not assented to and are presented again to the House for consideration.