The Nigerian Peace Corps Establishment Bill, earlier passed by the House of Representatives on 29th February, 2024 and transmitted to the Senate for concurrence which was read on the floor of Senate has passed through first reading.
In line with the extant rules of the National Assembly a motion for concurrence to be sponsored by the Senate Leader, Sen. Micheal Opeyemi Bamidele (Ekiti Central) will come up shortly to enable the Senate adopt the Bill

The Peace Corps of Nigeria established over 25 years ago by the National Commandant, Dr Dickson Akoh, is incorporated in Nigeria under the Company and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) and accorded the Federal Government recognition through the Federal Ministry of Youth Development and granted license to operate in the Country as a Non-Governmental Organization by the Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning.

Aside the Peace Corps bill, the Senate also passed for first reading , Nigerian Hunters and Security Service Bill 2024, Legislative Houses ( Powers & Privileges ) Act ( Amendment ) Bill 2024 and National Talent Rehabilitation and Integration Agency ( Establishment ) Bill 2024.

Others are , Agricultural Research Council Act ( Amendment) Bill 2024 and Agricultural Harvest and Processing Zone ( Establishment ) bill 2024 .

Traditional Ruler of Daffo in Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State, Da Jonathan Sunday Akuns, and the promoter of Nigerian Indigenous Nationalities Alliance for Self Determination (NINAS), Mr. Tony Nnadi, Thursday disagreed over the modalities to be adopted in birthing a new Constitution for the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Akuns and Nnadi were among speakers at a consultative meeting convened by the National Christian Elders Forum (NCEF) on new constitution held via ZOOM.

Akuns contended that the 1963 Republican Constitution was not abrogated, all the House of Representatives need to do was to amend it to preserve Nigeria’s democratic and structural foundation.
He said “ethnic cohorts held a constitutional conference in Lagos on 25-26 July 1963 and mandated elected Members of the House of Representatives to enact the Republican Constitution with effect from January 10,1963.

“The enthroned autochthonous 1963 CFRN was never abrogated by military juntas, but simply suspended. Therefore, we need to carefully stitch the democratic strands of Nigeria by reviewing the autochthonous 1963 CFRN.”

Akuns, who is also an Economist and retired bank director, regretted that the Nigerian governing eras of 1966 to 1999 missed or messed with the opportunity to have called for the needed amendment of the 1963 constitution in order to restore the democratic foundations of the federal structure.
“As a result, the Federal Republic of Nigeria (FRN) suffered prolonged period of an interregnum that stifled and stunted the maturity of the tenets of republican governance in Nigeria. India is a global classic of republicanism in the nationhood strides of countries that also emerged by colonial creation.”
The former CBN director maintained that the best route for the constitution review process in the present circumstances is to tinker with the 1963 republican constitution, stressing that that is the best bet to preserve the democratic demands of constitution making.
But, countering Akuns’ postulations, the Executive Secretary of NINAS, Nnadi, argued that nothing short of a brand new corruption produced by indigenous nationalities can set the country right.
Nnadi, a lawyer and constitutional rights activist, noted that since sovereignty belongs to the people, the lie contained in the preamble of the 1999 Nigeria Constitution can only be cured by incorporating the inputs of Nigeria’s indigenous nationalities into a new constitution.
Citing Section 14 sub 2 of the Constitution, the NINAS chieftain explained that what the current National Assembly wants to do is not different from the past attempts at tinkering with the country’s grundnorm.
While insisting that amending the constitution would not berth equity and stability without suspending certain provisions stipulated by successive military regimes to foist a unitary constitution, Nnadi said there was need for a transitional procedure.

Another speaker, Elder Ayokunle Fagbemi, remarked that as the House of Representatives get ready to review the Constitution, it is necessary to build scenarios, noting that while the best case scenario is to birth a new constitution, the worse case scenario is that the legislature would not succeed in amending or getting a new constitution.
Fagbemi praised NCEF for the meeting saying that it would help to guide the Forum on the way forward as it prepares to engage with ethnic nationalities.
Earlier, the chairman of NCEF, Dr. Samuel Gani, disclosed that the consultative meeting was convened for Christian Elders to “deliberate on a new constitution for Nigeria and understand the different perspectives in the proposals for a new constitution before the NCEF with the ethnic nationalities.”

“Presently, there are four different perspectives in getting a new constitution for Nigeria, including *Amendment of the 1999 Constitution by the National Assembly.
“Adoption of the 2014 National Conference Report and its draft Constitution, *Adoption of the 1963 Republican Constitution (for) amendment to reflect current realities and A New Constitution developed by the ethnic nationalities,” he stated. Some of the dignitaries that attended the meeting included General Zamani Lekwot, Elder Nath Okoro, Mrs. Shola among others.

President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio, has sent a message of congratulations to Nigeria’s Tunde Onakoya for the feay in setting a new world chess record and etching the country on the world map.
The Nigerian chess champion has broken the world record for the longest chess marathon after playing unbeaten for more than 58 hours in New York City’s Times Square to raise money for underprivileged children.
Akpabio’s congratulatory message ehich was signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Hon. Eseme Eyiboh and made available on Sunday in Abuja described Onakoya’s achievement as typical of the audacity of Nigeria’s spirit of determination, hard work and resilience.
“My joy knows no bounds as I celebrate this young and adroit Nigerian, Tunde Onakoya, who is imbued with the Nigerian spirit of determination, hard work and resilience and has elevated our dear country in the comity of nations.
“On behalf of the Senate and the Nigerian National Assembly, my constituents in Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial District and my family, I heartily congratulate and rejoice with Tunde Onakoya on this onerous achievement.
“I followed closely while the competition was on and I must commend the brand-new world champion, Tunde for remaining steadfast despite the challenges he had during the journey.
“I am happy that the dream behind this laudable project is to raise funds for indigent African children to also, explore the opportunities that abound in the game of chess. This is a good way of grooming other champions and taking many children off the streets.
“I wish to use this opportunity to advise Nigerians, especially the youth to borrow a leaf from our latest hero- never to give up when they embark on a legitimate enterprise, no matter the obstacles. With youth like Tunde, Nigeria has greater hope to attain her potential”.