Peace Corps Bill: They promised to create jobs, but are blocking opportunities - Nigerian youths lament

macfranc007 March 10, 2018 Nigeria News today & Breaking news ▷ Read Nigerian newspapers 24/7 David Oladele

- The recent refusal to sign the peace corps bill has created apprehension among thousands of Nigerian youths whose hope of being employed through the corps

- Mohammed Kabir from Kano state who represents the feeling of thousands of other Nigerian youths in different parts of the country said he is confused

- Kabir said when he got the opportunity to enlist with the peace corps, last year, 2017, he was so happy but it seems now that all the hope is lost

The recent rejection of President Muhammadu Buhari of the proposed peace corps of Nigeria establishment bill has created apprehension among thousands of Nigerian youths whose hope of being employed through the corps is now hanging in a balance.

Leadership reports that some of the youths expressed anger by asking ‘what kind of government is this? ''They promised to create jobs, but are blocking opportunities that would give thousands of youths employment.''

Mohammed Kabir from Kano state was seen standing with two of his friends, John Imasuen and Sani under a tree at the premises of the FCT Abuja command of the Peace Corps of Nigeria said he is confused by the rejection of the proposal.

Kabir said: ''I am just confused,” Mohammed began his story, “I am just totally confused. I left school in 2014, I read accountancy at the Kano state polytechnic and since then I have been moving from one menial job to another.

''When I got the opportunity to enlist with the Peace Corps, last year, I was so happy that I didn’t mind some of the demands they were making as requirements for enlistment.

''When I saw the opportunities the peace corps offered me, I didn’t look back, I borrowed money to buy the form and make other payments. My hope had been that when I get posted to a good place, from my salary I would pay back the loan.

''All hope is not lost yet. Something can still happen. If members of the National Assembly passed the bill, they have a reason for passing it and they will not allow the narrow interest of a few individuals to prevail.''

PCN Public Relations Officer, Patriot Millicent Umoru while responding to questions on what she thought could have informed the President’s decision not to sign the bill said, the President was being ill-advised by some selfish individuals.

According to her, ''We have been having a running battle with the Nigerian Police which think we are coming to take over their job. But that is not true, Peace Corps is basically to provide intelligence for the police.

‘’We do not have the power to arrest or prosecute, our duty is basically with schools and neighbourhood watch.

‘’We are not in competition with the police in any way.” Umoru who suddenly became emotional wondered why youths will not keep finding their way out of the country when the authorities keep frustrating them at every turn.

“For more than a year, the police sealed our headquarters and they have refused to leave there even when there are two court judgments ordering them to leave,” she said, adding, ''How can we move forward as a country when we do not follow the rule of law?''

Although there have been calls from different quarters including the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), the National Association of Polytechnic Students (NAPS) among others, urging the President to rescind his decision and sign the bill, there are also dissenting voices saying that there is no need for another paramilitary body in Nigeria.

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Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere of the National Youth Council of Nigeria, though acknowledged the role National Commandant of PCN, Dickson Akoh played in the resolution of the crisis in NYCN, he does not see the need for Peace Corps in the Nigeria security system.

'He said: ''What problem is the peace corps going to solve that the police and civil defense cannot solve if they are empowered.

''If the police is properly equipped in terms of intelligence gathering, do we need another agency to come in?” On what becomes of the youths who paid through their nose to enlist in the corps, “We warned people not to pay that money but they will not listen believing that the bill will be passed.''

Meanwhile, NAIJ.com had reported that the National assembly confirmed President Buhari's rejection of the proposed PCN establishment bill.

The president conveyed his rejection of the bill in a letter read during plenary on Tuesday, February 27, by Yakubu Dogara, speaker of the house.

The national assembly passed the bill in 2015, after a prolonged battle involving the organisation and the nation’s security agencies.

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