NGOs Regulatory Bill - Now or Never

The Bill seeks to set up a federal agency to be known as the NGO regulatory Commission

To say no Bill has generated as much controversy as the Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO) Regulatory Bill currently on the floor of Nigeria’s House of Representatives is an understatement.

In fact the public outcry which has greeted this controversial bill has attained such crescendo that the matter of Indigenous People of Biafra(IPOB) proscription has been pushed to the background. Perhaps the outcry, especially from the religious circles, would not have been as much as this if the Bill had excluded religious organisations from its scope.

 

The Bill seeks to set up a federal agency to be known as the NGO regulatory Commission with the object clause of regulating the activities of NGOs and Civil Service Organisations (CSOs). The main sponsor of the Bill, House Leader, Umar Jibril said the Bill is aimed at ensuring transparency and accountability in the operations of NGOs and CSOs.

Some of the provisions of the Bill include licensing of all NGOs and CSOs in Nigeria and the renewal of their licenses every two years. Another provision will mandate the NGOs and CSOs to declare every fund received from donors, while obtaining permission before such funds are spent and getting approval for the purpose for which the fund will be used.

While INDEPENDENT supports the need for some sort of regulations for the NGOs and CSOs, especially as regard financial responsibility and transparency, however, the Newspaper is concerned that the spirit behind this Bill may not be in consonance with the letters of the Bill.

This Newspaper believes that any institution/organisation that accepts funds from the public or private organisations or NGOs need be transparent in the use of such funds. We equally share the opinion that some NGOs and religious organisations in the country may not have been judicious in the administration of the funds in their custody. To that extent, the Bill has some merits and could be advantageous in improving the country’s financial discipline as a people and nation.

However, our concern centres on the implementation of this Bill, if passed into law. Would it not become a repressive tool in the hands of overzealous agents with ethnic or religious biases? It also stands the risk of becoming another tool for the political elites to use in silencing oppositions or critics in the civil society.

It is therefore important that sections of the Bill that are totalitarian in nature be expunged. Of equal importance is the need to enlighten the public on the content and intent of the bill. Indeed, the National Assembly needs to do a lot of public enlightenment so as  not  to leave room for speculations,.

It is imperative  that all stakeholders be invited to the public hearing to be held in discussing the Bill. If the concerns of all stakeholders are addressed as best as possible in the Bill, we believe it will further strengthen the country’s democratic ideals and principles.

 

Ensuring that the spirit and the letters of the Bill agree with democratic principles is of utmost necessity, otherwise whatever good this Bill carries would be rubbished by the criticisms that it would attract if it clears the third hearing and  is assented to by the joint house and the Presidency.

We also need to stress that this Bill does not seek to stamp out any religion, as some people in some quarters believe. In the first place, it is a Bill sponsored by the National Assembly where all Nigerians are represented. If any member of the public feels it is a Bill that will hinder his or her freedom of worship or expression, then such person should reach out to his or her representative in the National Assembly to ensure the Bill is not passed into law.

The nation and her citizens should appreciate the need not to give religious or ethnic coloration to every well-intentioned move of the government. Nigerians should be ready to start doing things transparently and with sense of deep responsibility as it is done in developed economies.

Certainly, the NGO Regulatory Bill could turn out to be one of the best things to happen to Nigeria if the spirit and letters behind it are based on democratic tenets. There could indeed be a silver lining behind the cloud.

SOURCE: Independent Newspaper