Civil Society groups fault NGO bill, says it violates Constitution

More knocks have continue to trail the proposed bill seeking the establishment of a Non Governmental Organisation (NGO) Commission to coordinator, supervise and harmonise activities of NGOs and civil societies in Nigeria otherwise known as NGO bill.

The bill proposed by Honourable Umar Jubril, which has passed second reading in the House of Representative and now in the committee stage, has been condemned by Coalition of Civil Societies, CSOs and notable Nigerians.

Reacting to the bill, the President of Voters awareness initiate Lagos, Wale Ogunade disclosed that the bill was a violation of the 1999 constitution which give Nigerians freedom to associates, set up groups and run such groups, adding that the bill was targeted at groups, and those perceived as not friendly to the current administration.

Ogunade who is also a practicing lawyers, noted that if passed into law the bill would become overbearing and negatively affect the activities of NGOs in Nigeria, adding that there were several government agencies already carrying out the functions of the propose commission.

He said that it was wrong for government to tag all NGOs in the country in the same mode, adding that Just like in any field there are bound to be bad eggs.

He urged members of the House of Representative not to pass the bill into law, adding that civil societies were engaging in advocacy, town hall discussion among Nigerians before considering legal option.

He said “Unfortunately the NGO bill has been politics in Nigeria, it is about politics, it not about the work of NGOs in Nigeria. Of course there could be some bad eggs that do not mean all of us are bad.

Some Sections of the bill are ok, but if you look at the whole bill itself it could be over bearing if implemented.

“The constitution gives Nigerians right to associates and form groups and run them freely and no laws can override that. We know that several NGOs are not working, that do not mean all are the same.

If you look at the bill it says if you are not registered you cannot do anything or operate, that is bad,” Ogunade said.