NGO Bill: You Can't Intimidate Us Into Abandoning Our Role, Dogara Warns Critics

The National Assembly on Tuesday reacted to the controversy trailing the proposed law seeking to regulate non-governmental organisations, NGOs, stating that it cannot be intimidated into abandoning its duty of providing platform for reaching consensus on any proposed legislative measure.

The House of Representatives Deputy Majority Leader, Umar Buba Jibril, had explained that the proposed law seeks to ensure that funds collected by NGOs and civil society organisations are used for Nigerians, adding that the legislation is aimed at ensuring that there is transparency and accountability in the way and manner NGOs collect funds.

The sponsor of the bill stated that the fraudulent activities and excesses of some NGOs necessitated a law to put them in check, alleging that many NGOs operating in the country do not have definite reason for their existence other than using their names to fleece international donor agencies of huge amount on behalf of Nigeria.

Speaking in Abuja on Tuesday at the resumption of plenary after the legislators’ seven-week recess, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara,
stated that Reps members were aware of the criticism over the NGO Bill which had passed second reading and was now at committee stage.

He argued that since transparency was what NGOs promoted, they should welcome the opportunity provided by the bill to interrogate the issues with open arms.

Dogara explained that the principal objective of the NGO Regulation Bill is to inject transparency, accountability and prevent the subversion of national security from within and without.

According to him, “Honourable members are also aware that the media have been awash with scathing criticism of the institution of the House of Representatives over the NGO Regulation Bill which has passed second reading and is at committee stage.

“Public criticism of the content of the Bill is a welcome development and there are many who are doing just that.

“Indeed, it is the reason why every Bill is subjected to public hearing so that the inputs of stakeholders can be obtained to ensure public buy-in.

“I hasten to say that all Nigerians and other corporate persons, including non-Nigerians, are stakeholders and have a right to support or oppose a Bill.

“However, when opinions are targeted at disparaging the institution of the legislature, then it becomes imperative to interrogate the motives driving such, especially when this emanates from those who should know,’’ he said.

He assured Nigerians that no one can gag the operations of NGOs in the country, adding that just as civil societies aspire for this freedom, they should know that freedom does not come without responsibility “as there is no such thing as freedom to be irresponsible.

“There are also desperate attempts to instigate religious bodies and cultural organizations to oppose the Bill by spreading falsehood that they are the target of this bill."