NGOs: LEPAN raises fear over extinction of civil society‎ groups

Following the consideration by the National Assembly, seeking to monitor and regulate the activities and operations of Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) in the country, the League of Progressive Ambassadors of Nigeria (LEPAN) has expressed it’s displeasure over the move by the lawmakers.

LEPAN stressed that the proposed move by the National Assembly to set up a regulatory body to monitor the activities of NGO’s, is a mere duplication of roles, which is already being saddled by well-established government agencies.

LEPAN, in a statement, signed by the National President, Chukwudi Anyawuocha, affirmed it’s position at the proposed bill, stating that it’s passage should not be negotiated, if the operational efficiencies of NGO’s are to be kept optimally.

“Firstly, we are worried at what now seems like an unfortunate national habit of avoiding the demanding and painstaking but important process of ensuring that existing institutions and laws fulfill their optimum objectives, and choosing instead to create new institutions and laws as if by mere duplication or multiplication, the underlying problem of dysfunctional systems would be fixed. Nothing could be further from the truth.”

“On the basis of the above, it is our considered opinion that the proposed bill fails, abysmally, these crucial tests of democratic principles and operational efficiency. It is on these sacred issues therefore that constitute our point of divergence from the bill”, he said.

Anyawuocha believes that if such bill is passed into law, the entire system will be ridiculed, bearing in mind, the role some government agencies already play in regulating civil society groups in the Country.

“More so, we strongly believe that the powers granted the government in the proposed legislation via the planned new commission would be subject to abuse. By their nature, civil society groups can run counter to political interests in a bid to better the lot of people in the country.”

“We are concerned that with the government having the power and leverage to loosely and likely arbitrarily grant renewable licenses, as well as determine which NGO will be registered or deregistered, a new era of tight government, nay political, control of civil society is upon us. This, perhaps, we must admit is our worst fear. This cannot be allowed to stand!”

He further accused the legislators of running fowl in their ‘Transparency and Accountability’ advocacy, stressing that they should apply that, by disclosing their full earnings.

“Nigerians have continued to demand that legislators reveal their full monthly and annual earnings for years to no avail. Maybe if the legislators can lead by example by yielding to this very basic expectation which is a given in more advanced climes, many Nigerians will not always read sinister motives into their claims. For now, they are viewed as mere hypocrites driven by a dark agenda. The onus rests on them to change this negative perception which they have so abundantly earned”.

The group, however, has called for an immediate halt of the proposed bill, if the lawmakers intend to respect the principles of expression and assembly in the Country.