OlayinkaOyelamiFoundation Blog: Commentary on The Poposed Non-Governmental Organis...

None of the persons who appeared before Nigerian lawmakers on Wednesday expressed support for the bill to regulate non-governmental organisations, NGOS.

A public hearing on the bill was held at by the House of Representatives at the National Assembly complex in Abuja.

At the hearing, all the attendees, including a Catholic cleric, Matthew Kukah, and a former lawmaker, Abdul Oroh, opposed the bill.

Speaking against the bill, Mr. Kukah stressed that without civil societies, democracy would be in danger.

“I stand with civil societies very firmly,” he said.

“The greatest benefit for us in a democracy is freedom.”

He said Nigeria already has enough laws to cover almost every dimension of its citizen’s life.

“We have other institutions that are literally malfunctioning and unable to deliver services”

He however hoped that the National Assembly would take seriously the arguments of various CSOs presented at the public hearing. Read more...  OlayinkaOyelamiFoundation Blog: Commentary on The Poposed Non-Governmental Organis...: The most topical issue among civil society organisations in Nigeria today is the proposed Non-Governmental Organisation Regulatory Commissi...