ABUJA – The National Commandant of the Peace Corps of Nigeria, Dr. Dickson Akoh has insisted that payment of N5000 stipend for unemployed youth should not be the priority of the federal government for now, but the resuscitation of ailing industries across the country.
He said there are some bills at the floor of the national assembly like that of the Nigerian Peace Corps Bill, if given serious attention and passed will provide and develop alternative employment for the youths to facilitate peace, community services and other related matters in the country.
Dickson, who stated this, in Abuja, while reacting to the Bill which had scale through second reading and referred to the committee of interior of the both chambers for further legislative actions including organising a public hearing, said issue of development should not be politicized to move forward.
He said those who are clamoring for the payment of stipend are not doing youths any good, but belittling Nigerian youths, adding that what the youth need now is a conducive environment that thrive their efforts and make them self-reliance.
While commending the NASS, Akoh noted that “the time has come for Nigerian youths to be properly guided and motivated towards the part of integrity, career development and creativity, which will in no doubt cumulate into genuine nation-building.”
According to him, “the Nigeria Peace Corps Act when passed into law will besides providing employment for over 800,000 Nigerian youths, also will substantially address social problems confronting Nigerian youths through their preoccupation in meaningful and productive ventures where they will be economically relevant to themselves and the larger society.”
Akoh further explained that “the bill seeks to give statutory functions to the existing Peace Corps of Nigeria (NPC) with over 98,000 members with well-structured network of branches in 34 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
“The Nigerian Peace Corps will work directly with communities on their most pressing needs, by using its youthful disposition as a competitive advantage to achieve its aims.
“The corps will serve as a reservoir of well groomed youths and a springboard as career development agency for government, non-profit organisations, academic institutions and the private sector. It will be supervised by the ministry of youth development
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