Civil Society condemns bill calling for the establishment of NGOs Regulatory Commission

A bill for the establishment of Non-governmental Organization Regulatory Commission for the supervision, coordination and monitoring of Non-governmental operations has been condemned by Civil Societies in Nigeria, Our Roving National Correspondent reports

The bill which was sponsored by a Kogi Lawmaker representing Kogi Koton Karfi Buba Jibril according to civil society groups is anti democratic urging president Muhammadu Buhari not to assent it into Law.

Condemning the bill in strong terms, Civil Society group such as Kogi Non-governmental network, civil society for HIV Aid in Nigeria, initiative for grass root advancement, Action Aid all explained that the bill is a threat to the fundamental human right of an individual, and a rape to the nation young democracy.

While expressing his disappointment that the mover of the bill hailed from Kogi State, the executive secretary civil society for HIV Aid in Nigeria CISHAN Walter Ugwuocha Called on various organizations to join hands in ensuring that the bill do not see the light of the day.

Ugwuocha expressed worries on what the legislature and the executive intend to achieve with the bill if passed into Law.

According to him, the National Assembly should focus on issues affecting the common man rather than beating around the bush to avoid them being checkmated when necessary.

He however dismisses the position of the lawmaker who pointed that, if passed it will assist in checking any likelihood of any civil society organization being illegally sponsored against the interest of Nigeria.

When asked on the consequences of the bill to the common masses if passed, the human right activists explained that right to freedom of association, expression, freedom to hold government or lawmaker accountable to their actions will be defeated.

He went further to state that, not only Non-governmental organization or Civil Societies that will feel the adverse effects of this bill, but Churches, Mosques, Okada Association, including journalist will have a taste of the action which he termed as a calculated attempt to derail credibility of their operations in Nigeria by the serving lawmakers.

However, the sponsors of the bill were admonished to withdraw it from the National Assembly and focus on issues affecting the nation democracy.

The group passed a vote of confidence on President Buhari Change Begins With Me Campaign Slogan, noting that if it scales through the red and green chamber, the President, Muhammadu Buhari led Government should decline his assent because of its respect for the fundamental human right of Nigerians.

It will be recalled that honorable Buba Jibril in his bill at the floor of the house argued that most Non-governmental organization do not have a single frame work that supervises the mode of their operations including their findings.

Jibril maintained that the bill is apt to address or cure defect occasioned by the absence of regulatory legal framework on the operations and activities of civil society organizations in Nigeria.

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