Youth-based organisation, Peace Corps of Nigeria (PCN) has bagged an award as ‘Most Endorsed Initiative in the 8th National Assembly’, by the Nigeria Assembly News, a news platform for legislative activities across the country.
At the award ceremony which held in Abuja on Saturday, the project coordinator for the platform, Omoboye Adeboye, said the Bill for an Act to establish the Nigerian Peace Corps as passed by both chambers was the most popular and widely endorsed legislative piece in the entire 8th Assembly. While recognizing the corps for the milestone, Adeboye thanked the leadership of the organisation for coming up with such a laudable and youth attractive initiative. He said that the it was because the bill was indispensable that it received massive endorsement from both chambers of the National Assembly.
The Peace Corps of Nigeria Bill was passed by the National Assembly but was however rejected by President Muhammadu Buhari who insisted that there was no fund for the corps and that it would amount to duplication of roles. Deputy National Commandant of Peace Corps, Dr Edet Ekpeyong, while receiving the award on behalf of the Corps, thanked members of the National Assembly for the resounding support accorded the Bill. Though President Muhammad Buhari declined assent to the Bill, but Ekpeyong said he was optimistic that the dream of founding fathers of PCN and lawmakers who passed the Bill would soon come to reality.
In his reaction, National Commandant of Peace Corps, Amb. (Dr.) Dickson Akoh, said the award, like numerous others received this year, was dedicated to Nigerian youths and President Buhari. Akoh, who as running mate to the APC governorship candidate in Benue state, told our correspondent that he has never lost hope about the establishment of Nigerian Peace Corps.
“I am happy that Nigerians, including the lawmakers appreciate the importance of Peace Corps of Nigeria. That alone supersedes what some few individuals think they can do to us. They thought they have won by sealing off our office, despite several court orders, or by telling lies against us, but God has vindicated us as the organisation turns out to be enjoying public endorsement,” he said.
He ex[pressed optimism that President Buhari would re-visit the bill and give it his assent.
Other who received various awards at the ceremony include: Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Yusuf Buratai, Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Jaiz Bank, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Senators and members of the House of Representatives.
NAN
