Umar trying to promote Islam with NGO bill, Catholic groups say

Caritas Nigeria and Justice, Development and Peace Commission (JDPC) has accused Umar Jibril of trying to promote Islam through the bill seeking to establish a commission that would regulate non-governmental organisations (NGOs).

Umar, the deputy majority leader of the house of representatives, sponsored the bill.

A section of the public believes the bill is aimed at clamping down on the organisations, while the lawmakers insist that it will help curb alleged corruption among NGOs in the country.

But the Catholic groups said on Sunday that the bill could be Umar’s “subtle way of promoting and protecting his religion (Islam)”.

They wondered if the lawmaker intends to use the bill to set up a framework through which “others might be persecuted”.

They said there have been “not less than eight attempts” by the house of representatives to control NGOs “instead of providing public financial support to NGOs as is done in many nations of the world”.

A statement issued by Evaristus Bassey, national director, Caritas Nigeria, read: “Presently the national assembly is perceived as a cesspool of corruption, and such bills that seem to put the house on a face-off with citizens only portray the house as intent on protecting a ‘Lootocracy’ that should not be questioned, hence the intent on muzzling NGOs.

“As the majority leader, Hon. Umar Jubril should have been aware of efforts between the house committee on NGOs and CSOs, including Caritas Nigeria and JDPC.

“Hon. Jubril’s disruptive effort is highly suspicious, especially against the backdrop of such security threats as the herdsmen attacks which are being seen as part of a sinister agenda of domination.

“Knowing full well that his religion demands him to use his position to promote and protect religion, is this Hon. Umar’s subtle way of promoting and protecting his religion by setting up a framework in which others might be persecuted?”

They urged the national assembly to drop all attempts to legislate NGOs, saying, “while we may have a few bad eggs among the NGOs, the main concern of all arms of government should be how to change the perception of Nigerians about government as ineffective, corrupt, wasteful and lacking vision”.