CSOs, Journalists Decry NGO Regulatory Bill, Say It Poses Danger to Democracy
Tobi Soniyi
Leading figures from the Nigerian and global academia, media, civil society, law and multi-national organisations from Africa, Asia, Europe, and North America have called on Nigeria to withdraw the Non Governmetal Organisations (NGO) Regulatory Commission Bill currently being considered by the National Assembly.
In a statement issued yesterday, the 54 signatories pointed out that the bill “is clearly intended to encourage the excesses of bad government.”
They called on all Nigerians to condemn the attempt by the National Assembly to pass the law which seeks to control and undermine the operations of NGOs in Nigeria.
They said: “In the grand scheme, this NGO Bill will create a government apparatus with ungoverned discretion to determine whether an NGO exists or for how long it will operate based on the dominant political whims of the day.
“As drafted, it has no place in a democracy and is clearly intended to encourage the excesses of bad government.”
They contended that the bill endangered constitutional guarantees of freedom of association, assembly, speech and even of freedom of conscience and religion and “will license unconstitutional discrimination too.”
The statement noted that “NGOs have been integral to Nigeria’s democratisation,” adding that “because of the sacrifices and leadership of NGOs in confronting years of military misrule, members of the National Assembly can have the benefits and powers they enjoy today.”
The signatories concluded that the NGO Regulation Bill is “a distraction, a threat to Nigeria’s hard-won democracy and a dis-incentive to investment at a time that the country need it. It is both insensitive and unconscionable.”
According to them, the proposals in the bill will bring back to life all the intolerance and high handedness of military rule, by clamping down on voluntary organisations, stifling free speech, restricting other political freedoms and dishonouring the tremendous sacrifices that ordinary Nigerians make to sustain their civic life.
While advising the National Assembly to work on other aspects of life that would help the country, they said there were enough laws governing the activities of NGOs in Nigeria.
“Nigeria’s problem is not an absence of legislation but with implementing them effectively,” they added.
They advised the National Assembly to prioritise the serious business of the people by helping the country get out of its current difficulties.
“If it chooses this path, it will find willing and enthusiastic partners in Nigeria’s vibrant civil society and NGO community,” the statement added.
In September 2017, the House of Representatives Committee on Civil Society will hold a public hearing on the bill.
They therefore, appealed to Nigerians of goodwill to lend their voices in condemning the bill and encourage the National Assembly to withdraw it from consideration.
They said: “Nigeria is going through one of its most difficult times. Nigeria’s democracy is endangered. The executive is operating in disturbing levels of opacity.
“The reputation of the judiciary remains mired in serious allegations of corruption. Many Nigerians are suffering the consequences of negative economic growth, leading to desperate livelihood conditions. Insecurity afflicts nearly every part of the country in the form of Boko Haram atrocities, inter-communal conflicts, rising kidnappings, massive fatalities from conflicts between pastoralists and farmers, and growing number of internally displaced persons (IDPs). Poor health outcomes and indicators as a result of the continual reduction of life expectancy, increase in the incidence of malnutrition, high rate of maternal and child mortality among others.
“In the face of these existential problems, this NGO Bill is a distraction, a threat to Nigeria’s hard-won democracy and a disincentive to investment at a time that the country need it. It is both insensitive and unconscionable. Along with other proposals such as the bill to regulate social media content, grant amnesty to treasury looters and give immunity to legislators, it is part of a growing list of abuse of legislative powers.”
Among those who signed the statement are a former UN Special Rapporteur on the Freedom of Association, Chief Maina Kiai, a former President, Civil Liberties Organisation, CLO, Ayo Obe, Life Bencher and a former President, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Olisa Agbakoba (SAN), a former President, West African Bar Association (WABA), Femi Falana (SAN), and Co-Chair, National Steering Committee, Nigeria Open Government Partnership (OGP) and Executive Director, Media Rights Agenda, Edetaen Ojo as well as Chairman, Governing Council, Section on Public Interest & Development Law (SPIDEL), Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Dr. Chidi Anselm Odinkalu.
Others are: Director, Centre for the Study of Human Rights, London School of Economics & Political Science, (LSE), London UK, Prof. Chetan Bhatt, Executive Director, Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) West Africa, Abuja Nigeria, Idayat Hassan, Executive Director, Women’s Rights Advancement and Protection Alternative (WRAPA), Nigeria, Saudatu Mahdi, a former Member, House of Representatives, Abuja, Dr Wale Okediran, Chairman, Editorial Board, Thisday Newspapers, Lagos Nigeria, Olusegun Adeniyi, and Publisher of The Cable, Simon Kolawole.