Leading figures from the Nigerian and global academia, media, civil society, law and multi-national organisations from Africa, Asia, Europe, and North America on Thursday called on Nigeria to withdraw the NGO Regulatory Commission Bill currently being considered by the National Assembly.
In a statement, the 54 signatories point out that the Bill “is clearly intended to encourage the excesses of bad government”. They argue that the Bill endangers constitutional guarantees of freedom of association, assembly, speech as well as freedom of conscience and religion and “will license unconstitutional discrimination too.”
The statement recalls that “NGOs have been integral to Nigeria’s democratisation”, noting 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 conclude 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.”
To Nigeria’s National Assembly, they offer the suggestion that “this is the time for the Nigerian National Assembly to prioritize 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.”
Please see the full statement and signatories below.
NGO REGULATION BILL: A GRAVE DANGER TO NIGERIA’S DEMOCRACY
The on-going attempt by the National Assembly to pass a law to control and undermine the operations of non-governmental organisations, NGOs, should be condemned by every Nigerian. 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. It also violates Nigeria’s constitutional guarantees of freedom of association, assembly, speech and even of freedom of conscience and religion. It will license unconstitutional discrimination too.
The proposals in this NGO Bill suggest that Nigeria’s Honourable Members and Distinguished Senators desire to 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.
It is already public knowledge that there is an extensive body of legislation governing the activities of NGOs in Nigeria. Nigeria’s problem is not an absence of legislation but with implementing them effectively.
In September 2017, the Nigerian House of Representatives Committee on Civil Society will hold a public hearing on the Bill. Every Nigerian of goodwill should lend their voices in condemning this bill and encourage the National Assembly to withdraw it from consideration. Nothing justifies the consideration or passage of this toxic piece of legislation. Current events in other African countries should remind us of the grave danger posed by the kind of unfettered powers that this Bill seeks to grant government.
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 dis-incentive 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.
It is important that the Nigerian National Assembly at this point should have an honest examination of its actions and take steps to salvage its credibility. This is the time for the Nigerian 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.
Signed:
1. Maina Kiai,
Former UN Special Rapporteur on the Freedom of Association
2. Ayo Obe,
Former President, Civil Liberties Organisation, CLO
3. Olisa Agbakoba, SAN,
Life Bencher & former President, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Lagos Nigeria
4. Femi Falana
Former President, West African Bar Association (WABA)
5. Edetaen Ojo,
Co-Chair, National Steering Committee, Nigeria Open Government Partnership (OGP) and Executive Director, Media Rights Agenda.
6. Chetan Bhatt,
Director, Centre for the Study of Human Rights, London School of Economics & Political Science, (LSE), London UK
7. Idayat Hassan
Executive Director, Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) West Africa, Abuja Nigeria
8. Saudatu Mahdi
Executive Director, Women’s Rights Advancement and Protection Alternative (WRAPA), Nigeria
9. Wale Okediran
Former Member, House of Representatives, Abuja.
10. Ben Anyene
Chairman, National Immunization Financing Task Team (NIFT) and Chairman, Health Sector Reform Coalition, Abuja Nigeria
11. Amma Ogan,
Former Editor, The Independent Newspaper, South Africa
12. Jibrin Ibrahim,
Senior Fellow, Centre for Democracy & Development West Africa, (CDD West Africa) Abuja Nigeria
13. Dapo Olorunyomi,
Publisher, Premium Times Newspaper, Abuja Nigeria
14. Otive Igbuzor
Executive Director, African Centre for Leadership, Strategy and Development (Centre LSD), Abuja Nigeria
15. Yunusa Ya’u,
Executive Director, Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD), Kano Nigeria
16. Innocent Chukwuma,
Founder, CLEEN Foundation
17. Olusegun Adeniyi,
Chairman, Editorial Board, Thisday Newspapers, Lagos Nigeria
18. Simon Kolawole,
Publisher, The Cable, Abuja Nigeria
19. Kole Shettima,
Director of Africa Office, MacArthur Foundation, Abuja Nigeria
20. Adele Jinadu,
Emeritus President, African Political Science Association
21. Nsongurua Udombana,
Pro-Chancellor, Ritman University, Ikot-Ekpene
22. Chidi Anselm Odinkalu,
Chairman, Governing Council, Section on Public Interest & Development Law (SPIDEL), Nigerian Bar Association (NBA)
23. Pascal K Kambale,
Human Rights lawyer; former law reform commissioner, the Democratic Republic of Congo
24. Yusufu Pam,
Former Attorney-General, Plateau State;
25. Ayo Atsenuwa,
Dean, Faculty of Law, University of Lagos, Nigeria
26. Adetokunbo Mumuni,
Executive Director, Socio-Economic Rights & Accountability Project (SERAP), Lagos Nigeria
27. Kolawole Olaniyan,
Legal Adviser, Amnesty International Nigeria, Abuja Nigeria
28. Eze Anaba,
Editor, Vanguard Newspaper
29. Ayisha Osori,
Chair, Board of Directors, Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA), Abuja Nigeria
30. Makmid Kamara,
Deputy Director & Ag. Head of ESCR Team, Amnesty International, London UK
31. Osai Ojigho,
Director, Amnesty International Nigeria, Abuja Nigeria
32. Achieng Maureen Akena,
Executive Director, The Pan African Citizens Network (formerly CCPAU), Nairobi Kenya
33. Dinah Musindarwezo,
Executive Director, African Women’s Development and Communication Network (FEMNET), Nairobi Kenya
34. Martha Makenge,
Ag. Chief Executive Officer / Programmes Coordinator, East African Civil Society Organizations’ Forum, (EACSOF), Nairobi Kenya
35. Chido Onumah,
Coordinator, African Centre for Media & Information Literacy, Abuja Nigeria
36. Isaac ‘Asume’ Osuoka,
Director, Social Development Integrated Centre (Social Action), Port Harcourt, Nigeria
37. ‘Gbenga Sesan,
Executive Director, Paradigm Initiative, Lagos Nigeria
38. Oluseun Onigbinde,
Lead Partner, BudgIT Nigeria, Lagos Nigeria
39. Bronwen Manby,
Visiting Senior Fellow, Centre for the Study of Human Rights, London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), London UK
40. Samson Itodo
Executive Director, Youth Initiative for Advocacy, Growth & Advancement (YIAGA), Abuja Nigeria
41. Seember Nyager,
Chief Executive Officer, Public and Private Development Centre (PPDC), Abuja Nigeria
42. Akwe Amosu,
Chief Integration Officer, Open Society Foundations, New York, USA
43. Dismas Nkunda,
Executive Director, Atrocities Watch-Africa, Kampala, Uganda
44. Agnes Ebo’o,
Founder, Citizens Governance Initiative, Yaounde, Cameroon
45. ‘Yemi Adamolekun
Executive Director, EiE Nigeria, Lagos Nigeria
46. Udo Jude Ilo
Country Officer and Head of Office, Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA), Abuja Nigeria
47. Benson Olugbuo,
Executive Director, CLEEN Foundation
48. Iheoma Obibi
Executive Director, Alliances for Africa, London Uk
49. Blessing Oparaocha
Coordinator, Nigeria Feminist Forum, Lagos Nigeria.
50. Auwal ‘Rasfanjani’ Musa
Exective Director, CISLAC, Abuja Nigeria,
51. Eze Onyekpere Executive Director, Centre for Social Justice (CSJ), Abuja Nigeria
52. Abiodun Baiyewu
Executive Director, Global Rights, Abuja Nigeria
53. Emma Sokpo
Director, Network for Health Equity and Development (NHED), Abuja Nigeria
54. Mike Ogirima
National President, Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Abuja Nigeria
Courtesy: PREMIUM TIMES
