Buhari rejects Peace Corps bill

President Muhammadu Buhari has rejected the proposed Peace Corps of Nigeria establishment bill.

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

The national assembly passed the bill in 2017, after a prolonged battle involving the organisation and the nation’s security agencies.

Buhari cited security concerns and financial burden of funding the organisation by the government as his reasons for rejecting the bill.

He said given “scarce government resources”, funding the organisation will be a financial burden on the federal government.

The Peace Corps of Nigeria has been involved in various controversies since the bill came to limelight at the national assembly.

There are litigations currently pending before the court between Dickson Akoh, the organisation’s commandant, and the Nigeria police force.

The organisation’s premises has also been cordoned off since last year by policemen, despite a court judgement and a directive from the house of representatives asking the police to vacate the premises.

On Tuesday, the Akoh and Ibrahim Idris, inspector-general of police, are expected to appear before a house of representatives committee investigating the dispute between the police and the organisation.