#NGOBILL Controversy
The new Non Govermental Organization (NGO) regulatory bill has been a source of controversy in Nigeria, with many kicking agaisnt it while some insist it is necessary. This bill got to committee stage as of 12th March 2017 and if clearly remembered NGOs criticised the legislators for initiating the bill after it successfully got to second reading in July 2016, and now all hell has been let loose since news of it's public hearing surfaced.
There has been serious campaign against it since the video of Dr. Odinkalu, formerly the chairman of the Nigerian Human Rights Commission stormed the internet
The video entails the following statements:
"… This is the most dangerous piece of legislation since 1999… All resources, funds, everything collected or liable to be collected, will be subject to Abuja. Before you can raise funds in your church, you have to get Abuja’s permission. After you raise the money, you have to return them to Abuja for Abuja to tell you what to do with them. When you’ve done that, only Abuja can help you to do your audits. Nobody can operate anything without the clearance of Abuja. It’s worse than a totalitarian piece of legislation. For the old Mamas and old Papas doing esusu in the village – that is revolving credit – before you do your collections, you come to Abuja for clearance. After you’ve done your collections, before you share the money or rotate the collections amongst the beneficiaries, you come to Abuja for clearance…
Ahmaddiya movement will have to come to Abuja for clearance. NASFAT will have to come to Abuja to do anything. The mosques that do collections every Friday to support people in their congregations and their communities will all have to account for such monies to civil servants who would either tell them what to do with it or collect it and trouser it into their pockets. The churches will be out of business. The mosques will be endangered… This is what the legislators want us to subscribe to. And as a citizen, you have to understand that this means there will be no voice of criticism for government. Nobody can tell government anything. What this body proposes to do; what government is proposing with this bill, is that after it has been passed, anybody organising in Nigeria under any form; students, old students association, Reverend Sisters in convents, Reverend Fathers and Pastors wherever they may be; Imams, Alfas and everybody; you will have to apply to Abuja for them to register you to operate. If they agree… they can refuse to register you, in that case you cannot do anything. Now if they agree to register you, however, you will have to only hold that license for two years. After those two years, you will have to apply to them to renew your license. If they agree at that time, you can continue to operate for another two years. If they don’t agree, that license lapses. If you try to do anything with that license, you will be liable to be imprisoned for 18 months and if they are sympathetic and decide not to send you to jail, you may be liable to a fine of N500,000. The civil servants will collect this money in the name of the politicians. It will be used to fire up political power that will not be accountable to any one of us. And this is why I’m saying that this is the most-dangerous piece of legislation that’s been considered in our country to date, in the past 20 years… this is your country too, and unless you fight for it, these people are going to destroy it, not just for you, but for your children and for your grandchildren and that, they don’t have a mandate to do.”
Other important personalities in cohort with Dr Ordikalu views of the bill, were Femi Fani-Kayode who in a tweet, warned that the bill would cripple Nigerians churches and mosques if it is allowed to be passed into law.
He tweeted: "The NGO Bill is evil. It will cripple churches, mosques and all NGO's and bring them under govt control. I advise Nigerians to resist it
Activist, Zainab Haruna also said "for any government to function, the role of the civil society is pivotal. It acts as a conscience for the government. And in the case of Nigeria, CSOs in many instances, offers services that ought to be provided by the state actually. To attempt to subject activities of civil society groups to government approval in a country is to permanently stifle them."
Sen. Shehu Sani "The bill on NGOs will reinforce those with tyrannical tendencies and further stifle rights to freedom of speech and assembly. I’ll oppose it"
Oby Ezekwesili has also chimed in through a series of tweets, stating what she thinks of the bill
Click here;
https://www.google.com.ng/amp/s/www.naij.com/amp/1127653-the-ngo-bill-threatens-voice-freedom-oby-ezekwesili.html
Just like we know there are also people clamouring for the bill to be passed...click here to read detailed arguments against Dr Ordikalu views
On Tuesday, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Yakubu Dogara insisted the national assembly will not be intimidated, and state "For the avoidance of doubt, let me state once again that churches, mosques, esussu, market women associations as well as local quasi financial institutions are “not NGOs’"
Whether this bill will be passed or not remains unknown
Meanwhile a poll has been made on here are the results
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