The house of representatives has resolved to investigate all non-governmental organizations (NGOs) operating in the country to investigate their total number and source of funding. The lower legislative chamber made the resolution today while debating a motion on Nigeria’s security challenges.
The speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, also hinted that the lawmakers may reintroduce a bill seeking to regulate the operations of the NGOs. The controversial bill was introduced in the last session; it will now have to be debated afresh. Gbajabiamila said security chiefs had during a meeting with the house leadership on Monday, complained of the activities of some of the NGOs identified as “bad eggs”.
The development comes a few days after the Nigerian army shut down the operations of Action Against Hunger, one of the NGOs providing relief for victims of Boko Haram in the north-east. The army accused the organisation of providing food for Boko Haram insurgents.
The NGO Regulatory Commission Bill seeks to supervise, monitor and coordinate the activities of civil society organizations. It has been rejected by many Nigerians who described it as “totalitarian”.
Former speaker, Yakubu Dogara, had said the bill seeks to “inject transparency, accountability and prevent the subversion of national security from both within and without”.
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