To pass the Nigerian Peace Corps Bill, senators received kickbacks in form of job slots and cash reward from the promoters of the proposed paramilitary organisation, PREMIUM TIMES can report.

Scores of senators received at least seven employment slots each to back the bill, which was passed to, amongst other things, create the Nigerian Peace Corps as the country’s newest law enforcement agency.

Some of the lawmakers considered key to the passage of the law got as much as 500 slots, our findings show.

Other senators received cash rewards for their acquiescence, multiple senators, including those who benefited, told PREMIUM TIMES.

The bribery scheme became so brazen that some senators who were members of the committees that worked on the bill pointedly accused each other of being bought by the Peace Corps.

But the leadership of the Senate quickly weighed in, made peace amongst the feuding senators and hushed up the case, consequently saving the upper chamber from another major embarrassment, our sources said.

But the Peace Corps denied offering bribes to lawmakers to secure the major milestone in its decade-long quest to become a government agency.

“At no point did our organisation offered any bribes to lawmakers,” Milicent Umoru, the group’s spokesperson, told PREMIUM TIMES Thursday. “The bill actually suffered a whole lot before it was finally adopted a few days ago.”

Both chambers of the National Assembly passed the bill “because they see it as necessary to curb acute unemployment amongst Nigerian youth,” she added. It remains unclear Saturday whether members of the House of Representatives also took bribes to pass the bill.

The Senate approved the harmonised version of the controversial bill on Tuesday, despite deep scepticism from its own Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters that the bill offers virtually no unique service to the public.

David Umaru, the committee chairman who was mandated by the Senate to look into the significance of the Nigerian Peace Corps Bill, delivered a scathing review of the paramilitary group when he laid the findings of his committee before the Senate Tuesday.

“The powers, functions, e.t.c., of the Peace Corps call for concern and this committee would wish that they are subjected to further examination,” Mr. Umaru, APC-Niger East, said.

The senator said the attempts by promoters of the Peace Corps to make government absorb it was strange and starkly different from the approach of its sister organisation in the United States.

“The American Peace Corps, which is used as a model, does not operate as a permanent and pensionable employment as intended in Nigeria under this proposed legislation,” Mr. Umaru said. “Rather, its employment is for a limited period of five years only for regular employees and 24 months for volunteers.”
Yet, Mr. Umaru went on to recommend that the Senate should proceed with passing the harmonised version of the Peace Corps Bill, clearing the way for its onward transfer to the president’s desk for assent.

Dickson Akoh, Peace Corps’ national commandant, said his organisations would offer what the American Peace Corps offers and even more.

The Peace Corps will achieve capacity building for youth creativity and intervention; capacity building for youth development and empowerment in agriculture; and peace education and conflict resolution, Mr. Akoh said.

But a majority of existing government agencies expressed strong opposition to the creation of the organisation.

At a House committee hearing during consideration of the bill, the Office of the Head of Service (HoS) said several government agencies with similar mandates as Peace Corps already exist and listed the Ministry of Youth Development and Ministry of Employment, Labour and Productivity and Ministry of Environment as examples.

Other existing law enforcement agencies include: Ministry of Education, Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution, National Orientation Agency, National Poverty Eradication Programme and, National Directorate of Employment. The list is far from being exhausted, the head of service said.
Consequently, the HoS urged lawmakers to consider “the implications of the proposed creation of Nigerian Peace Corps on the cost of governance and duplication of duties of existing agencies.”

Law enforcement agencies have taken measures against the Peace Corps since at least 2003 when the State Security Service arrested Mr. Akoh and shut down his offices across the country.

He resumed operation in 2007. But when the SSS clamped down on his organisation again, he launched a civil lawsuit which has dragged since then.

This year alone, the police have detained Mr. Akoh at least twice.

At the first incident, armed officers from police, SSS and the Nigerian Army stormed the head office of the Peace Corps and took Mr. Akoh and more than 40 others into custody.

The head office was also shut by the police, and has not been reopened ever since.

Mr. Akoh said he had won at least 11 cases against different security agencies over the past 15 years. The police will neither confirm nor deny this assertion.

While several agencies under executive control have openly expressed opposition to the Peace Corps, President Muhammadu Buhari and Acting President Yemi Osinbajo have not said whether they will assent to the bill or reject it.

Enquiries directed to presidential spokespersons, including Garba Shehu, Laolu Akande and Femi Adesina, went unanswered throughout Thursday.

Senate sources with knowledge about the tactics of the Peace Corps told PREMIUM TIMES the group’s promoters gave millions of naira to some senators.

“Apart from the cash bribes that they offered, they even gave some key lawmakers who worked to ensure that the bill was passed more than 1000 job slots,” a senator said.

But PREMIUM TIMES could not confirm if Mr. Umaru received cash bribes from the Peace Corps.

Promoters of the Peace Corps also put pressure on some lawmakers through their constituents.

“They asked our constituents to inundate us with calls about jobs prospects in the Peace Corps,” the senator said.

Senate spokesperson, Abdullahi Aliyu, did not respond to PREMIUM TIMES request for comments on the allegations.

But Enyinnaya Abaribe, PDP-Abia South, denied receiving any bribes from the Peace Corps.

The “allegation is beneath contempt,” he said.
“None at all,” he said while responding to specific question on whether he received cash bribes.

Mr. Akoh was said to raised funds from the sale of forms to unemployed youth seeking job placement in his organisation. He has been selling employment forms to prospective recruits at N1,500 per copy.

But he told PREMIUM TIMES in January that the N40,000 he collects from prospective members was meant for registration, training, procurement of kits, amongst others.

“The ICPC has investigated us in 2004 and established that we’re not extorting money from the youth,” he added.

Other than the possible employment opportunities that an established Peace Corps could bring to Nigerian youth, there appears to be no other unique reason for its creation.

But even “this can be achieved by strengthening existing agencies and not necessarily creating a new one so as not to overburden the federal government,” Mr. Umaru said.

Yet, the senator declined requests from PREMIUM TIMES seeking to know why he urged his colleagues to allow the Peace Corps Bill scale through in disregard of the findings of his committee.

www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/238524/-exclusive-nigerian-senators-took-bribes-pass-peace-corps-bill.html

really?

The bill is not passed yet

chai, ike mu eyee oye ikuku ndi iro ana aba


Nigeria onye Nwuru anwu na aga ije na achi

Na wa ooooh..Nothing is free again in this country

pure fabrication from premium times, our media with them say them say, why not list the names of senators that took the bribe? but u people shout unemployment up and down and just when the govt is trying to do something in assisting the youth then u came up wit this unrealistic write up or have u been paid to do this? if u guy have Been paid then u have loose ur interigrity, who even give a hoot abt Nigeria media, rubbish.

Ennyforeal:
pure fabrication from premium times, our media with them say them say, why not list the names of senators that took the bribe? but u people shout unemployment up and down and just when the govt is trying to do something in assisting the youth then u came up wit this unrealistic write up or have u been paid to do this? if u guy have Been paid then u have loose ur interigrity, who even give a hoot abt Nigeria media, rubbish.

How exactly is peace Corp a form of employment ?

SalamRushdie:


How exactly is peace Corp a form of employment ?

are the members not Nigerians? let the government engage the jobless youth and if u talk abt duplication of functions then there is duplication of function in every govt agencies just let these youth be

Ennyforeal:
are the members not Nigerians? let the government engage the jobless youth and if u talk abt duplication of functions then there is duplication of function in every govt agencies just let these youth be

What you are saying is exactly why public servants are not productive in Nigeria.

Its all about providing salary earning avenue with federal character.

When will they establish MDAs to be really creative and productive?

The fund that will be used to set it up only, offices and logistics will make our police better even.

Well... Those men has not disappointed as clowns which they are.

A country that is borrowing to pay salaries of workers?
Is now setting up an organisation that will duplicate functions of existing organisations?
Making a voluntary job full time with salaries and pensions?
Okay make una kontinu.
Nigerian Marshal services and Ranger services now loading.
We must copy everything America by force.
Civil defence never clear for our eyes, na peace corps we wan add.

Why can't this peace corps of a thing remain a voluntary organisation and managed as an NGO?

Must they force it's ownership down the throat of the Nigerian state?

There is basically no service that they can offer that is not being done by existing Federal Govt agencies.


If the aim is to employ people, then the police should be given the go ahead to employ the 150,000 officers they said they need. We actually need more police officers.

Without sentiments, there is absolutely no need for this Peace corps to become a Federal govt agency.

The Acting President should just leave the already passed bill in one corner.

GEJ left hundreds of such passed bills like that till he left and heaven did not fall.

Osinbajo/Buhari must never make the mistake of sending it back to the NASS that they withheld assent. Na there trouble go start. They should just leave it in one corner.

Before you know it, different NGOs would also start going to NASS with Ghana must go bags to bribe them to also pass their bill to make them a Federal Govt agency.

Marotzke:
A country that is borrowing to pay salaries of workers?
Is now setting up an organisation that will duplicate functions of existing organisations?
Making a voluntary job full time with salaries and pensions?
Okay make una kontinu.
Nigerian Marshal services and Ranger services now loading.
We must copy everything America by force.
Civil defence never clear for our eyes, na peace corps we wan add.

I just tire oh

There is also a vigilante group bill pending before NASS. Although I'm not sure if those ones also want Federal Govt to make them a govt agency.

It is unfortunate that a notable news outlet like PREMIUM TIMES will lower it's guard to be used by some mischievous element to spread false news about a reputable organisation. Peace Corps of Nigeria has given Nigerian youth a voice and hope. We are peacemen and we shall continue to show our patrotism towards the actualisation of a peaceful Nigeria.

There is no question that a free, honest and unbiased press is a great asset to any free and fair society. A press characterized by integrity demands answers to hard questions from everyone, regardless of political affiliation. When the press chooses sides, it enables those on the selected side to ignore rules and conduct themselves as they please, having no one to whom they must answer. Of course, this assumes that the populace is largely asleep at the wheel and not demanding objectivity in the press.

Unfortunately, the “PREMIUM TIMES MEDIA" have conformed to this latter description, but I see signs of the people beginning to recognize the risks to both political and economic freedom imposed by the continuation of a journey down that pathway. The press no longer enjoys the almost unanimous trust it could once take for granted. What has caused so much of the press to become biased and agenda-driven, and why has the partiality become so blatant?

It is encouraging that many people are seeing the light and ignoring the intellectually bankrupt assertions of these agents of resentment.

It is not uniformly unfair with nefarious agendas, but a significant portion is. One of the best ways to determine which news organization is objective and which has an agenda is to keep a scorecard that lists both electronic and print media. When evaluating a story, check off whether it is concentrating on factual reporting or demonization. If there is controversy, determine if both points of view are considered. If major stories barely mentioned, that should raise suspicions about objectivity.

Objective journalistic integrity can play a tremendous role in healing an ailing nation. The issues we face as a nation deserve the attention of rational, mature and objective individuals who have the courage to seek the truth, wherever it leads.

I hereby challenge Premium Times media to be objective not to run down their integrity if there is any.

It is unfortunate that a notable news outlet like PREMIUM TIMES will lower it's guard to be used by some mischievous element to spread false news about a reputable organisation. Peace Corps of Nigeria has given Nigerian youth a voice and hope. We are peacemen and we shall continue to show our patrotism towards the actualisation of a peaceful Nigeria.

There is no question that a free, honest and unbiased press is a great asset to any free and fair society. A press characterized by integrity demands answers to hard questions from everyone, regardless of political affiliation. When the press chooses sides, it enables those on the selected side to ignore rules and conduct themselves as they please, having no one to whom they must answer. Of course, this assumes that the populace is largely asleep at the wheel and not demanding objectivity in the press.

Unfortunately, the “PREMIUM TIMES MEDIA" have conformed to this latter description, but I see signs of the people beginning to recognize the risks to both political and economic freedom imposed by the continuation of a journey down that pathway. The press no longer enjoys the almost unanimous trust it could once take for granted. What has caused so much of the press to become biased and agenda-driven, and why has the partiality become so blatant?

It is encouraging that many people are seeing the light and ignoring the intellectually bankrupt assertions of these agents of resentment.

It is not uniformly unfair with nefarious agendas, but a significant portion is. One of the best ways to determine which news organization is objective and which has an agenda is to keep a scorecard that lists both electronic and print media. When evaluating a story, check off whether it is concentrating on factual reporting or demonization. If there is controversy, determine if both points of view are considered. If major stories barely mentioned, that should raise suspicions about objectivity.

Objective journalistic integrity can play a tremendous role in healing an ailing nation. The issues we face as a nation deserve the attention of rational, mature and objective individuals who have the courage to seek the truth, wherever it leads.

I hereby challenge Premium Times media to be objective not to run down their integrity if there is any.

Patriot Ola Tunde

MY IDEOLOGY AS PATRIOT AND PEACEMAN.

Patriotism, the love and devotion to one’s country, is one of the many characteristics that will make Nigeria a wonderful nation.

Patriotism is also the passion to serve one’s country, either in defending it from invasion, or protecting its rights and maintaining its laws and institutions.

“True patriotism hates injustice in its own land more than anywhere else.”
—Clarence Darrow

True patriotism springs from a belief in the dignity of the individual, freedom and equality not only for Nigeria but for all people on earth, universal brotherhood and goodwill, and a constant and earnest striving toward the principles and ideals on which this country was founded.

My dream as a patriot and peace man as I was trained under akohism (Amb. Dr. Dickson Akoh) ideology is of a place and a time where Nigeria will once again be seen as the last best hope of earth. Anyone that shares Dr. Akoh ideology will hate injustice and he will always stand for what is right at all time.

I believe our flag is more than just cloth and ink. It is a universally recognized symbol that stands for peace, and unity. It is the history of our nation, and it’s marked by the blood of those who died defending it. It is NOW time we have legal backing to preach PEACE AND UNITY.

Loving one’s homeland is an instinct inherent in man, and it is deeply seated in heart. We were trained by PCN to love our country and bear always affection and admiration for it.

This beautiful feeling we have towards our own country is a motivation for us to serve it well and be keen to attend to its interests.

GOD BLESS AMB. DR. DICKSON AKOH AND HIS TEAM that trained us to be patriotic.

I LOVE PCN
I LOVE NIGERIA
I LOVD NIGERIANS.

PATRIOT OLA TUNDE

Peace Corps of Nigeria Refutes Bribery Allegation Levelled Against It By Premium Times
Peace Corps of Nigeria Refutes Bribery Allegation Levelled Against It By Premium Times
The Commandant-General of Peace Corps of Nigeria, Patriot Dr. Dickson Akor, has cleared the air on the bribery allegation levelled against PCN by an online news site, Premium Times
Dr. Akor who made the clarification via his Facebook handle Saturday, said it is not surprising to witness attacks of such magnitude at this stage of the organization's success but wondered why a reputable news site like Premium Times would fly such a news that it has no single evidence to back
"I'm the Founder/ National Commandant, Peace Corps of Nigeria (PCN), whose Bill was passed by the two Chambers of the National Assembly as Nigerian Peace Corps. The core mandate of NPC is to Develop, Empower and provide gainful Employment for the Youth, facilitate Peace, Volunteerism, Community Service, Neighborhood Watch, Nation Building and other related matters. My attention was drawn to the article on Premium Times that cast the PCN in a contemptuous light, but on a second thought, they may be referring to a rival organization, National Unity And Peace Corps led by one Mr. Chinedu Ineji, whose Bill was nipped in the bud by the National Assembly.
The Peace Corps of Nigeria (PCN), as the largest youth organization in Africa, has a well-structured network of branches in all the States capital in Nigeria, including the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja with current membership strength of over 157, 000 (comprising of both regular members and volunteers). PCN and its activities, established since 1998 in the ancient City of Kaduna, was accorded Federal Government recognition, under the Federal Ministry of Youth Development since 2004 and it is a member of the National Youth Council of Nigeria. The Corps was in 2012 accorded a Special Consultative Status by the United Nations and assigned desk offices at the UN Headquarters in New York City, USA and regional offices in Geneva, Switzerland and Vienna, Austria. The African Union, in the same vein, accorded PCN a special Consultative Status in 2016 on the occasion of its 18th anniversary. Also, the Federal Ministry of Education granted PCN approval to establish its activities in all the Federal Government Colleges (Unity Schools) in the federation since 2011. It is also affiliated to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to provide emergency relief and humanitarian services.
The Corps and its leadership has received over 70 Awards, Locally and Internationally. Does it mean this Organization bribed its way to have recorded all these achievements and recognition, including bribing its way to the hearts of African Union and United Nations. From the foregoing, I wish to posit that it is most unfortunate that it has become a trade in stock for some individuals or groups, nowadays, to pre-occupy themselves with character assassination and distortion of obvious facts and figures against this noble objective. We recall too that the two Chambers of the National Assembly, as part of the legislative processes, organized Public Hearings in their respective Chambers in respect of NPC Bill. Over 570 Memoranda were received and 300 oral submissions made during the Public Hearings. In all of these, it was only 4 submissions and presentations that were against the passage of the Bill. Public Hearing is one of the most important part of Bill making processes. Does it means Peace Corps bribed its way into the hearts of all individuals and institutions, including Federal Government Ministries/ Agencies, Traditional and Religious Institutions that all advocated for the passage of the Bill?
Former Military President, General Ibrahim Babangida once said, "If our Lord Jesus Christ was misrepresented, Prophet Mohammed too misrepresented in Their days of ministrations, then to be misrepresented is to be great." Certainly, NPC is on the part to greatness. The question now begging for answers from every rational mind is that can any youth based Organization has the financial capacity or wherewithal to bribe a single Senator or House of Representatives member, how much more of the entire National Assembly members and its leadership; some of whom where former Governors, Ministers, Business moguls, Retired Generals, e.t.c. After the Passage of the Bill, we do expect deliberate and calculated campaign of calumny by those who want to truncate it being assented to by the Mr President. But certainly we never, in our imagination, expect it to come from Premium Time that we hold in high esteem. Who must have bribed Premium Time to play the role of the devil's advocate? Nevertheless, when a witch cries in the night and a child dies in the morning, certainly the source is well known. What God, in His infinite mercies, has endorsed, no mortal being or beings in their conspiracy can derail. This too, is another challenge we shall triumph with truth and with God.
"The ultimate measure of a man is not determined by where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but by where he stands at times of challenges and controversy" - Martin Luther King Jr"
Dr. Dickson Akor wrote on his Facebook handle few hours after Premium Times made the publication Saturday

masterpiece86:
To pass the Nigerian Peace Corps Bill, senators received kickbacks in form of job slots and cash reward from the promoters of the proposed paramilitary organisation, PREMIUM TIMES can report.

Scores of senators received at least seven employment slots each to back the bill, which was passed to, amongst other things, create the Nigerian Peace Corps as the country’s newest law enforcement agency.

Some of the lawmakers considered key to the passage of the law got as much as 500 slots, our findings show.

Other senators received cash rewards for their acquiescence, multiple senators, including those who benefited, told PREMIUM TIMES.

The bribery scheme became so brazen that some senators who were members of the committees that worked on the bill pointedly accused each other of being bought by the Peace Corps.

But the leadership of the Senate quickly weighed in, made peace amongst the feuding senators and hushed up the case, consequently saving the upper chamber from another major embarrassment, our sources said.

But the Peace Corps denied offering bribes to lawmakers to secure the major milestone in its decade-long quest to become a government agency.

“At no point did our organisation offered any bribes to lawmakers,” Milicent Umoru, the group’s spokesperson, told PREMIUM TIMES Thursday. “The bill actually suffered a whole lot before it was finally adopted a few days ago.”

Both chambers of the National Assembly passed the bill “because they see it as necessary to curb acute unemployment amongst Nigerian youth,” she added. It remains unclear Saturday whether members of the House of Representatives also took bribes to pass the bill.

The Senate approved the harmonised version of the controversial bill on Tuesday, despite deep scepticism from its own Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters that the bill offers virtually no unique service to the public.

David Umaru, the committee chairman who was mandated by the Senate to look into the significance of the Nigerian Peace Corps Bill, delivered a scathing review of the paramilitary group when he laid the findings of his committee before the Senate Tuesday.

“The powers, functions, e.t.c., of the Peace Corps call for concern and this committee would wish that they are subjected to further examination,” Mr. Umaru, APC-Niger East, said.

The senator said the attempts by promoters of the Peace Corps to make government absorb it was strange and starkly different from the approach of its sister organisation in the United States.

“The American Peace Corps, which is used as a model, does not operate as a permanent and pensionable employment as intended in Nigeria under this proposed legislation,” Mr. Umaru said. “Rather, its employment is for a limited period of five years only for regular employees and 24 months for volunteers.”
Yet, Mr. Umaru went on to recommend that the Senate should proceed with passing the harmonised version of the Peace Corps Bill, clearing the way for its onward transfer to the president’s desk for assent.

Dickson Akoh, Peace Corps’ national commandant, said his organisations would offer what the American Peace Corps offers and even more.

The Peace Corps will achieve capacity building for youth creativity and intervention; capacity building for youth development and empowerment in agriculture; and peace education and conflict resolution, Mr. Akoh said.

But a majority of existing government agencies expressed strong opposition to the creation of the organisation.

At a House committee hearing during consideration of the bill, the Office of the Head of Service (HoS) said several government agencies with similar mandates as Peace Corps already exist and listed the Ministry of Youth Development and Ministry of Employment, Labour and Productivity and Ministry of Environment as examples.

Other existing law enforcement agencies include: Ministry of Education, Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution, National Orientation Agency, National Poverty Eradication Programme and, National Directorate of Employment. The list is far from being exhausted, the head of service said.
Consequently, the HoS urged lawmakers to consider “the implications of the proposed creation of Nigerian Peace Corps on the cost of governance and duplication of duties of existing agencies.”

Law enforcement agencies have taken measures against the Peace Corps since at least 2003 when the State Security Service arrested Mr. Akoh and shut down his offices across the country.

He resumed operation in 2007. But when the SSS clamped down on his organisation again, he launched a civil lawsuit which has dragged since then.

This year alone, the police have detained Mr. Akoh at least twice.

At the first incident, armed officers from police, SSS and the Nigerian Army stormed the head office of the Peace Corps and took Mr. Akoh and more than 40 others into custody.

The head office was also shut by the police, and has not been reopened ever since.

Mr. Akoh said he had won at least 11 cases against different security agencies over the past 15 years. The police will neither confirm nor deny this assertion.

While several agencies under executive control have openly expressed opposition to the Peace Corps, President Muhammadu Buhari and Acting President Yemi Osinbajo have not said whether they will assent to the bill or reject it.

Enquiries directed to presidential spokespersons, including Garba Shehu, Laolu Akande and Femi Adesina, went unanswered throughout Thursday.

Senate sources with knowledge about the tactics of the Peace Corps told PREMIUM TIMES the group’s promoters gave millions of naira to some senators.

“Apart from the cash bribes that they offered, they even gave some key lawmakers who worked to ensure that the bill was passed more than 1000 job slots,” a senator said.

But PREMIUM TIMES could not confirm if Mr. Umaru received cash bribes from the Peace Corps.

Promoters of the Peace Corps also put pressure on some lawmakers through their constituents.

“They asked our constituents to inundate us with calls about jobs prospects in the Peace Corps,” the senator said.

Senate spokesperson, Abdullahi Aliyu, did not respond to PREMIUM TIMES request for comments on the allegations.

But Enyinnaya Abaribe, PDP-Abia South, denied receiving any bribes from the Peace Corps.

The “allegation is beneath contempt,” he said.
“None at all,” he said while responding to specific question on whether he received cash bribes.

Mr. Akoh was said to raised funds from the sale of forms to unemployed youth seeking job placement in his organisation. He has been selling employment forms to prospective recruits at N1,500 per copy.

But he told PREMIUM TIMES in January that the N40,000 he collects from prospective members was meant for registration, training, procurement of kits, amongst others.

“The ICPC has investigated us in 2004 and established that we’re not extorting money from the youth,” he added.

Other than the possible employment opportunities that an established Peace Corps could bring to Nigerian youth, there appears to be no other unique reason for its creation.

But even “this can be achieved by strengthening existing agencies and not necessarily creating a new one so as not to overburden the federal government,” Mr. Umaru said.

Yet, the senator declined requests from PREMIUM TIMES seeking to know why he urged his colleagues to allow the Peace Corps Bill scale through in disregard of the findings of his committee.

www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/238524/-exclusive-nigerian-senators-took-bribes-pass-peace-corps-bill.html

Peace Corps of Nigeria Refutes Bribery Allegation Levelled Against It By Premium Times
Peace Corps of Nigeria Refutes Bribery Allegation Levelled Against It By Premium Times
The National Commandant of Peace Corps of Nigeria, Patriot Dr. Dickson Akor, has cleared the air on the bribery allegation levelled against PCN by an online news site, Premium Times
Dr. Akor who made the clarification via his Facebook handle Saturday, said it is not surprising to witness attacks of such magnitude at this stage of the organization's success but wondered why a reputable news site like Premium Times would fly such a news that it has no single evidence to back
"I'm the Founder/ National Commandant, Peace Corps of Nigeria (PCN), whose Bill was passed by the two Chambers of the National Assembly as Nigerian Peace Corps. The core mandate of NPC is to Develop, Empower and provide gainful Employment for the Youth, facilitate Peace, Volunteerism, Community Service, Neighborhood Watch, Nation Building and other related matters. My attention was drawn to the article on Premium Times that cast the PCN in a contemptuous light, but on a second thought, they may be referring to a rival organization, National Unity And Peace Corps led by one Mr. Chinedu Ineji, whose Bill was nipped in the bud by the National Assembly.
The Peace Corps of Nigeria (PCN), as the largest youth organization in Africa, has a well-structured network of branches in all the States capital in Nigeria, including the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja with current membership strength of over 157, 000 (comprising of both regular members and volunteers). PCN and its activities, established since 1998 in the ancient City of Kaduna, was accorded Federal Government recognition, under the Federal Ministry of Youth Development since 2004 and it is a member of the National Youth Council of Nigeria. The Corps was in 2012 accorded a Special Consultative Status by the United Nations and assigned desk offices at the UN Headquarters in New York City, USA and regional offices in Geneva, Switzerland and Vienna, Austria. The African Union, in the same vein, accorded PCN a special Consultative Status in 2016 on the occasion of its 18th anniversary. Also, the Federal Ministry of Education granted PCN approval to establish its activities in all the Federal Government Colleges (Unity Schools) in the federation since 2011. It is also affiliated to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to provide emergency relief and humanitarian services.
The Corps and its leadership has received over 70 Awards, Locally and Internationally. Does it mean this Organization bribed its way to have recorded all these achievements and recognition, including bribing its way to the hearts of African Union and United Nations. From the foregoing, I wish to posit that it is most unfortunate that it has become a trade in stock for some individuals or groups, nowadays, to pre-occupy themselves with character assassination and distortion of obvious facts and figures against this noble objective. We recall too that the two Chambers of the National Assembly, as part of the legislative processes, organized Public Hearings in their respective Chambers in respect of NPC Bill. Over 570 Memoranda were received and 300 oral submissions made during the Public Hearings. In all of these, it was only 4 submissions and presentations that were against the passage of the Bill. Public Hearing is one of the most important part of Bill making processes. Does it means Peace Corps bribed its way into the hearts of all individuals and institutions, including Federal Government Ministries/ Agencies, Traditional and Religious Institutions that all advocated for the passage of the Bill?
Former Military President, General Ibrahim Babangida once said, "If our Lord Jesus Christ was misrepresented, Prophet Mohammed too misrepresented in Their days of ministrations, then to be misrepresented is to be great." Certainly, NPC is on the part to greatness. The question now begging for answers from every rational mind is that can any youth based Organization has the financial capacity or wherewithal to bribe a single Senator or House of Representatives member, how much more of the entire National Assembly members and its leadership; some of whom where former Governors, Ministers, Business moguls, Retired Generals, e.t.c. After the Passage of the Bill, we do expect deliberate and calculated campaign of calumny by those who want to truncate it being assented to by the Mr President. But certainly we never, in our imagination, expect it to come from Premium Time that we hold in high esteem. Who must have bribed Premium Time to play the role of the devil's advocate? Nevertheless, when a witch cries in the night and a child dies in the morning, certainly the source is well known. What God, in His infinite mercies, has endorsed, no mortal being or beings in their conspiracy can derail. This too, is another challenge we shall triumph with truth and with God.
"The ultimate measure of a man is not determined by where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but by where he stands at times of challenges and controversy" - Martin Luther King Jr"
Dr. Dickson Akor wrote on his Facebook handle few hours after Premium Times made the publication Saturday

successpeter:
Peace Corps of Nigeria Refutes Bribery Allegation Levelled Against It By Premium Times
Peace Corps of Nigeria Refutes Bribery Allegation Levelled Against It By Premium Times
The National Commandant of Peace Corps of Nigeria, Patriot Dr. Dickson Akor, has cleared the air on the bribery allegation levelled against PCN by an online news site, Premium Times
Dr. Akor who made the clarification via his Facebook handle Saturday, said it is not surprising to witness attacks of such magnitude at this stage of the organization's success but wondered why a reputable news site like Premium Times would fly such a news that it has no single evidence to back
"I'm the Founder/ National Commandant, Peace Corps of Nigeria (PCN), whose Bill was passed by the two Chambers of the National Assembly as Nigerian Peace Corps. The core mandate of NPC is to Develop, Empower and provide gainful Employment for the Youth, facilitate Peace, Volunteerism, Community Service, Neighborhood Watch, Nation Building and other related matters. My attention was drawn to the article on Premium Times that cast the PCN in a contemptuous light, but on a second thought, they may be referring to a rival organization, National Unity And Peace Corps led by one Mr. Chinedu Ineji, whose Bill was nipped in the bud by the National Assembly.
The Peace Corps of Nigeria (PCN), as the largest youth organization in Africa, has a well-structured network of branches in all the States capital in Nigeria, including the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja with current membership strength of over 157, 000 (comprising of both regular members and volunteers). PCN and its activities, established since 1998 in the ancient City of Kaduna, was accorded Federal Government recognition, under the Federal Ministry of Youth Development since 2004 and it is a member of the National Youth Council of Nigeria. The Corps was in 2012 accorded a Special Consultative Status by the United Nations and assigned desk offices at the UN Headquarters in New York City, USA and regional offices in Geneva, Switzerland and Vienna, Austria. The African Union, in the same vein, accorded PCN a special Consultative Status in 2016 on the occasion of its 18th anniversary. Also, the Federal Ministry of Education granted PCN approval to establish its activities in all the Federal Government Colleges (Unity Schools) in the federation since 2011. It is also affiliated to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to provide emergency relief and humanitarian services.
The Corps and its leadership has received over 70 Awards, Locally and Internationally. Does it mean this Organization bribed its way to have recorded all these achievements and recognition, including bribing its way to the hearts of African Union and United Nations. From the foregoing, I wish to posit that it is most unfortunate that it has become a trade in stock for some individuals or groups, nowadays, to pre-occupy themselves with character assassination and distortion of obvious facts and figures against this noble objective. We recall too that the two Chambers of the National Assembly, as part of the legislative processes, organized Public Hearings in their respective Chambers in respect of NPC Bill. Over 570 Memoranda were received and 300 oral submissions made during the Public Hearings. In all of these, it was only 4 submissions and presentations that were against the passage of the Bill. Public Hearing is one of the most important part of Bill making processes. Does it means Peace Corps bribed its way into the hearts of all individuals and institutions, including Federal Government Ministries/ Agencies, Traditional and Religious Institutions that all advocated for the passage of the Bill?
Former Military President, General Ibrahim Babangida once said, "If our Lord Jesus Christ was misrepresented, Prophet Mohammed too misrepresented in Their days of ministrations, then to be misrepresented is to be great." Certainly, NPC is on the part to greatness. The question now begging for answers from every rational mind is that can any youth based Organization has the financial capacity or wherewithal to bribe a single Senator or House of Representatives member, how much more of the entire National Assembly members and its leadership; some of whom where former Governors, Ministers, Business moguls, Retired Generals, e.t.c. After the Passage of the Bill, we do expect deliberate and calculated campaign of calumny by those who want to truncate it being assented to by the Mr President. But certainly we never, in our imagination, expect it to come from Premium Time that we hold in high esteem. Who must have bribed Premium Time to play the role of the devil's advocate? Nevertheless, when a witch cries in the night and a child dies in the morning, certainly the source is well known. What God, in His infinite mercies, has endorsed, no mortal being or beings in their conspiracy can derail. This too, is another challenge we shall triumph with truth and with God.
"The ultimate measure of a man is not determined by where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but by where he stands at times of challenges and controversy" - Martin Luther King Jr"
Dr. Dickson Akor wrote on his Facebook handle few hours after Premium Times made the publication Saturday

honestly we Nigerian are our own problem, this is a welcome development some people prefer politician and dubious individual to embezzle this money and resources rather than using it to empower the youth diezeni maduake and patrick from kaduna comes to mind.