The House of Representatives has deferred debate on the general principle of a bill to regulate the operations of Non Governmental Organizations( NGOs) in the country, to enable lawmakers to get more brief on it.
The proposed legislation, which is entitled ” a bill for an Act to establish Non-Governmental and Civil Society Organisations Agency for the promotion of social development activities in Nigeria and for related Matters” is sponsored by chairman, House Committee on Water Resources, Sada Soli.
Debate on the general principles of bill, which was listed as item number 11 in Orders of the day, in the Order Paper, were shelved, after lawmakers demanded that it should be stepped down, so that copies of the bill will be made available to members, before it is taken for second reading.
The deputy minority leader, Toby Okechukwu, while speaking on the proposed legislation, said copies of the bill should be made to lawmakers, before the debate, so that they can make informed contributions.
Okechukwu said “It ( the bill) should be discussed from a position of knowledge. It is important that our colleague make the copies available to members so that we don’t appear to be making laws ignorantly. It should be withdrawn and stepped down to be presented another day.”
However, Soli, in his speech said the proposed legislation is about the country. He noted that whenever security chiefs appear before the House, they have always stressed the need for legislation to regulate NGOs.
According to him, ” This bill is about our country. I can remember that when we summoned service chiefs, including the NSA, all of them concurred on the need to have a legislation just like other jurisdictions do in order to monitor— this bill is not to gag or to strangulate the operation of the activities of the NGO.
“I understand the sensitivity of this bill because it affects some of our colleagues—run one room NGO and they have a relationship with some of the NGOs. I will have to give them some time. This is a futuristic bill.”
However, the deputy speaker, Idris Wase, who presided over the plenary, in his ruling, said he appreciates the concerns of lawmakers. However, Wase noted that the corporate existence of the country cannot be compromised.
He said “if it is the wish of the House, we will step it down. But I want you to recall the various motions we have taken on the floor of this House on the activities of the NGOs, with particular reference to what has happened and still happening within the Northwest region and how they will rent a house for 20 plus years, and various tactics support they give to insurgents.
” It is good we have regulations— a kind of code of conduct that should guide their existence. I believe this is what the bill is talking about. It is the collective resolve of the House that we need to regulate the activities of NGO, not to say that we are eliminating but to regulate them. I believe that when it comes to consideration, it won’t just go to the committee of the whole. It will go for public hearing.”
N.O
