House Adopts Conference Committee Report on Peace Corps Bill

*Approves presidential declaration order 2022 designating parks with national status

Juliet Akoje in Abuja.
The House of Representatives yesterday adopted the conference committee reports on the bill to establish the Nigerian Peace Corps.
The Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Babangida Ibrahim, while moving for the consideration on the floor of the House, said the bill among others was to establish the Nigerian Peace Corps.

Ibrahim, said the peace corps would be a body charged with the responsibility to develop, empower and provide gainful employment for youths, adding that it would also facilitate peace, volunteerism, community service, neighborhood watch and nation building.
The harmonised report of the conference committee which was laid and adopted by the lawmakers showed the conference adopted the version of the bill as passed in terms of clause 38(2).

The highlight of the adopted report was on clause 38 (1) of the version passed by the Senate which was in conflict with the version passed by the House of Reps as contained under clause 38 (1).
The Senate’s version seeks dissolution of the existing Peace Corps of Nigeria and National Unity and Peace Corps.
The House of Representative’s version of the Bill solely recommended the dissolution of the existing Peace Corps of Nigeria to be transformed into the Nigerian Peace Corps when assented to by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The Nigeria Peace Corps (NPC) Establishment Bill was passed in 2022, by the House and Senate.
Members of the House Conference Committee were Hon. Babangida Ibrahim as the Chairman; Hon. Chinedu Ogah, Hon. Ibrahim Potiskum, Hon. Abdulmumini Are and Hon. Legor Idegbo.
Meanwhile, the House of Representatives yesterday approved the Presidential Declaration Order, 2022, designating 10 named Parks with the status of National Parks.

This followed the adoption of a motion on Presidential Declaration of National Park Order, 2022 presented by Hon. Peter Akpatason, at plenary presided by the deputy speaker of the House, Hon Idris Wase.
Akpatason noted that the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria had, on November 16, 2022 signed a Declaration Order, declaring 10 parks across Nigeria as National Parks.

“In consonance with the provisions of Section 18 of the National Park Service Act, the President, communicated in writing requesting the concurrence of the House on the ten New National Parks to wit.

“Subject to this Act, the President with the concurrence of the National Assembly, may by order published in the gazette (a) declare such areas in the Federation as he may deem fit as National Parks which shall be subject to the provisions of the Act,” he added.

He further said that an order made under Subsection (i) of the section shall set out the situation limits of each National Park, specify the intern management policy for the National Park and specify the classification of the “National Park”
He said the Declaration Order, 2022 set out, the Declaration of new National Parks, name, situation and limits of the new National Park and constitution of the National Parks Management Committee

However, the ten new National Parks declared in the Order included Allawa Game Reserve, Niger State; Apoi Forest Reserve, Bayelsa State;  Edumenum Reserve, Bayelsa State;  Falgore Game Reserve Kano State; Baturiya Wetland game Reserve, Jigawa State;  Kampe Forest Reserve, Kwara State; Kogo Forest Reserve, Katsina State; Marhai Forest Reserve, Nasarawa State; Oba Hill Forest Reserve, Osun State and Pandam Forest Reserve, Plateau State.