Toba Owojaiye reportingÂ
Abuja, NigeriaÂ
In a renewed effort, the House of Representatives has reignited efforts to regulate non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and civil society organizations (CSOs) through the reintroduction of the NGO Bill. “The proposed legislation, titled ‘Bill for an Act to establish non-governmental and civil society organisation agency for the promotion of social development activities in Nigeria and for related matters,’ aims to compel both international and national NGOs, along with CSOs, to register and submit to government scrutiny,” explains the initiative.
This legislative move, currently awaiting a second reading, outlines penalties, including “a fine of N500,000 and/or two years imprisonment for non-compliance.” The bill, originally presented in the Eighth Assembly and subsequently in the Ninth Assembly, faced setbacks at the committee stage due to widespread condemnation. “Having resurfaced in the House since 2017, the NGO Bill has faced challenges in progressing beyond the committee stage in both the Eighth and Ninth Assemblies.”
Sponsored by Sada Soli, an All Progressives Congress (APC) member from Katsina State, the current NGO Bill proposes the creation of a non-governmental and civil society agency. Soli states, “The agency would be tasked with regulating the activities of NGOs and CSOs, empowering it to register, facilitate, and coordinate the work of both national and international organizations operating in Nigeria.”
Furthermore, Truth Live News gathered that the agency is designed to maintain a comprehensive register of all NGOs in the country and “advise the government on their activities and roles in national development.” It would conduct regular reviews to ensure consistency in reports submitted by NGOs and CSOs, providing policy guidelines among other responsibilities.
“Critics argue that the bill, if enacted, may be perceived as a move to stifle free speech, a critical element of true democracy.” The legislation mandates NGOs and CSOs to seek approval from relevant ministries before initiating any program or project, emphasizing “the need to register these activities with the proposed non-governmental and civil society agency.”
As Nigeria grapples with the delicate balance between regulation and preserving democratic values, “the fate of the NGO Bill remains uncertain, raising questions about its potential impact on civic engagement and democratic values in the country.”