The Senate at its plenary session of Tuesday, 12 April 2022, read for the Third Time and Passed the Bills to establish the Nigerian Peace Corp and the National Unity Corp (SBs 271 and 375). The Bills seek to empower, develop and provide employment for youths in order to facilitate peace, volunteerism, community services, neighborhood watch and nation building.
Presenting the report of the Senate Committee on Interior on the Bills, the Chairman, Sen. Kasshim Shettima (APC: Borno) explained that the functions and mandates of the corps shall include:
- Enlisting, mobilizing, training and orienting youth as supporting agents for social order.
- Serving as educators on security and safety measures in communities
- Detecting, collating and analyzing intelligence data on matters likely to cause breach of peace and security within the neighborhood.
- Transmitting of intelligence data to appropriate security agency for pre-emptive measures and actions.
- Engaging in advocacies for peace, conflict resolution and mediation in order to advance peacebuilding across all communities in Nigeria.
- Securing institutions on education from invaders and to combat all forms of social vices, including cultism and examination malpractices with a view to creating peaceful and conducive atmosphere for learning.
- Training and building the capacities of youths in areas of critical thinking, creativity, innovation, entrepreneurship and skill acquisition.
- Setting up farm settlements across various Senatorial Districts in order to boost the skills of youths in large scale and mechanized farming for increased food production.
- Setting desk centers at entry points into the country in order to register tourists and other visitors after clearance by the Nigerian Immigration and other relevant security agencies including serving as tour guides and guards.
In his submissions, Sen. Shettima informed lawmakers that stakeholders and the general public present at the Public Hearing held on Tuesday, 18 May 2021, supported the passage of the Bill noting that the proposed legislation provides for the development of a comprehensive, multi-sectoral and an inclusive approach for addressing youth restiveness which contributes to insecurity.
In conclusion, Sen. Shettima stated that the establishment of the Corps will allow for job creation.
