By Ene Osang Abuja Senate Committee Chairman on Youth and Sports Development Senator Obinna Ogba, has said that the Peace Corps of Nigeria (PCN) has come to stay, appealing to the President to assent to the Bill without further delay.
Ogba, who was speaking at the opening of PCN new headquarters complex in Abuja, reminded President Mohammadu Buhari to fulfi ll the All Progressives Congress (APC) campaign promise of youth employment in the country. According to him, “the PCN is the only hope for youth employment at the moment”, even as he stressed that the acting President, Yemi Osibanjo, has the capacity to do so in the absence of President Mohammadu Buhari.
”Peace Corps has come to stay, I want to appeal to the President to assent to this bill as it is the only hope of employment for youths now. ”Th is change the APC promised youths during campaigns, they should accomplish it to the teeming unemployed youths,” he said. Also in his remarks member, Senate Committee on Interior, Mao Ohuabunwa, who represented the Chairman of the committee, Senator Usman Nafada, said PCN would address the unemployment challenges in the country, if the Bill was signed by the President. “We appeal to the President to assent the bill in furtherance to APC promise to provide employment for youths.
If assented it will help in gainful employment instead of engaging in crimina activities because of idleness, as the saying goes an idol mind it’s the devil’s workshop ,”he said. Minister of Youth and Sports Development Barrister Solomon Dalung, assured of partnering with the PCN to ensure youths are adequately engaged. According to him Peace Corps has maintained a strong platform for mutual collaboration with the ministry. Th e PCN National Commandant Ambassador Dickson Akoh had earlier cleared allegations of exploiting applicants, saying the organization’s recruitment is not online and that anybody who wants to join should visit the headquarters or state commands where the fees are pacifi ed. Akoh, however, said sale of forms were suspended due to complain of extortion, which he clarifi ed was not from the PCN.
”I consider it very pertinent to bring to your knowledge that, PCN is committed to the promotion of positive values, ethics and ideals of nation building. ”Our core mandate is to develop, empower and provide gainful employment for the youths, to facilitate peace, volunteerism, community services, neighborhood watch and other related matters, he said.
Th e Commandant added that they carry out youth based programmes for character development, attitudinal change and strict discipline through reorientation, social engagements and empowerment of youths. To this end, he called on all Nigerian youths to shun all forms of anti-social behaviour and cultivate peace and discipline.
