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Senate Affirms Dickson Akoh As Originator of Peace Corps Bill 

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Amidst controversies over the face behind the Nigeria Peace Corps Bill, the Senate has declared Professor Dickson Akoh as the owner of the bill which both Chambers of the National Assembly , legislated upon and transmitted to President Muhammadu Buhari for assent last month .
In a statement signed by Senator Ali Ndume ( Borno ,) in his capacity as the sponsor of the bill ,for an Act to establish the Nigerian Peace Corps in the Senate , accordingly adopted by the two chambers of the National Assembly, Thursday declared that any other group or individual , laying claim and parading itself as Nigerian Peace Corps , is illegal.
Senator Ndume, who chairs the Senate Committee on Army but sponsored the the bill said it was the Dickson Akoh led Peace Corps Bill that was considered , passed and adopted by both chambers of the National Assembly
According to Ndume an alleged claim by one Mustapha as the owner of the bill for the Peace Corps of Nigeria is false.
The statement reads : “The attention of the leadership of the Senate and indeed the National Assembly has been drawn to different groups laying claims to the Bill for ran Act to establish the Nigerian Peace Corps which was harmonized and adopted by the two Chambers of the National Assembly.
“The Bill as passed by the two Chambers of the National Assembly is solely sponsored by the current Peace Corps of Nigeria under the headship of Prof. Dickson Akoh as the National Commandant.
“Since the Bill was transmitted to Mr President for his assent by the Clerk of the National Assembly on the 12th April, 2023, the Senate has been inundated with several entreaties as to the status of the Bill, especially the Organization that is sought to give statutory backing after *Mr President’s assent* to the Bill.
“To put the record straight, Part VIII of the Bill titled “Dissolution of the existing Peace Corps of Nigeria and Savings” explicitly provides that at the commencement of the Act that the existing Peace Corps of Nigeria will be dissolved and transmute to the Nigerian Peace Corps. The import of this therefore is that the Bill only sought to give statutory backing to the existing Peace Corps of Nigeria under the leadership of Prof. Dickson Akoh.
“Also, on the issue of the nomenclature of the headship of the proposed Nigerian Peace Corps, the title is National Commandant as contained in Part III, Section 11(1) of the Bill as passed and not Commandant General as widely been speculated.
“However, the Bill made adequate provision in Section 38 (8) was made to accommodate individuals, groups, associations or bodies that have shown or demonstrated interest to be absorbed as members of the Corps shall be absorbed subject to the mandatory basic training and orientation programme of the Corps as prescribed on the commencement of this Act.
“It is important to say that effect cannot be given to this Bill until same is assented to Mr President. Therefore, any group laying claim and parading itself as Nigerian Peace Corps for now is illegal.”
The harmonised version of Peace Corps Nigeria Bill was adopted by both chambers of the National Assembly last month and transmitted to the Presidency.
By: Nneka Amaechi-Nnadi, Abuja
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Stakeholder Wants Govt, Community Leaders To Invest In Sports

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The State Nursery and Primary School II, Mgbuanyim, Elele in Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State held its eighth Inter House Sports School competitions last Saturday.
Speaking at the event, Chairman of the occasion, Hon. Innocent Worisah, called on both governments and community leaders to invest more in sports as it would help to boost the economy of the State.
Worisah said this at the  annual inter house sports Competition of the school, saying that appropriate sporting facilities should be provided to all schools in the State and that would discover talents like Austin J. J Okocha and the rest.
“To me sports remains the only avenue that brings  youths together, and promotes peace and unity among them.  I  urge Government at all levels and  community leaders to join hands and build a better society through sports.
“I commend the headmaster of the school and his team for ensuring that the competition was a success” Hon. Worisah said.
Also speaking, the Education Authority Desk Officer in the LGA, Solomon Umeto also called on Government, mostly the LGA Chairmen to pay more attention to sports development at the grassroots level.
“It is obvious that sporting activities reduce youth restiveness and nefarious activities, investment in sports can create million jobs for the teeming youths who are desirous to do sports”, Umeto said.

By: Tonye Orabere

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NSCDC Commissions New Commands In Kebbi, Sokoto

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Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has set up new command posts in Kebbi and Sokoto States to boost staff performance, security and better protect critical national infrastructure in the states.
Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, who commissioned the two commands, said Federal Government would not relent in ensuring the protection of citizens at all times by providing the necessary supports, and logistics needed to maintain the current tempo of development to ensure effective discharge of the Corps core mandates
Represented by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Dr Shuaib Belgore, Aregbesola stated that the Federal Government was dedicated to continuously support the Corps to enhance performance and boost national security.
According to a statement signed by the agency’s Public Relations Officer (PRO), Olusola Odumosu, the minister also tasked personnel in the two states to live up to the mandate of the agency and exhibit the highest level of discipline in their conduct.
He further charged the personnel to “abstain from rancor and unnecessary rivalry and ensure effective synergy with military and all other law enforcement agencies”.
Aregbesola commended the leadership of the Corps for the tremendous transformation witnessed within the last two years as he further attributed it to the doggedness, determination, pragmatic approach and readiness of personnel to impact positively on the nation’s security.
Present at the event were governors of the two states; Atiku Bagudu of and Aminu Tambuwal who were both represented.

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NAWOJ Partners FH1360 To Boost Maternal, Infant Nutrition

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The Nigerian Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Lagos State Chapter, in collaboration with FH1360/Alive and Thrive Project hosted an interactive media round table aimed at promoting maternal, infant and young child nutrition, with an intervention of reducing the total number of anemia and all deficiencies related to mother and child.
Chairperson, NAWOJ, Lagos State, Adeola Ekine, said the initiative was focused on improved reporting of maternal nutrition coverage in journalism.
She added that the annual event provides insight on illnesses affecting children and mothers and their possible solutions
The Lagos State team Lead, Alive and Thrive, Olawunmi Ajayi, who spoke extensively on Maternal, Infant and young child nutrition (MIYCN), noted that Nigeria loses about 2313 children daily translating to 844,321, children death annually, half of which are due to malnutrition.
“You don’t have to spend a lot on trying to impress people about your feeding habit you just have to make sure you are providing and feeding a well-balanced diet.

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