‘We have so many laws covering what this is about’ — Kukah rejects NGO bill

Mathew Kukah, Catholic bishop of Sokoto diocese, says there is no need for the non-governmental organisation (NGO) regulatory commission bill.

He said this on Wednesday at a public hearing organised by the house committee on civil society organisations and development partners.

The bill, which seeks to supervise and monitor the activities of civil society organisations (CSOs) and community-based organisations (CBOs), has been condemned by many Nigerians.

Speaking at the public hearing, Kukah said existing laws established to check the activities of NGOs should be effected rather than signing in a new law in that regard.

“I stand with civil society very firmly (on the bill),” he said.

“We have enough laws already to cover every sphere of the country. The intentions (of the bill) might be right but I think we can channel our energy to other things.

“Without civil society, democacy will be in danger in Ngeria. We have so many laws covering what this bill is seeking to do.”

Protesters comprising CSOs and rights groups earlier stormed the national assembly on Wednesday morning, kicking against the bill.

Umar Buba Jibril, sponsor of the bill, had explained that the bill is aimed at ensuring transparency and accountability in the way and manner NGOs collect and spend funds.

But many CSOs have described the bill as an instrument to stifle NGOs.

Chidi Odinkalu, former chairman of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and one of the pioneers of the campaign against the bill, described it as “totalitarian” and said it should be “killed.”