‘It Is Very Sensitive’ — Speaker Abbas Steps Down Bill To Regulate Churches, Mosques, Other NGOs, CSOs

The controversial bill seeking to regulate non-governmental organisations was stepped down on Thursday after a much-heated debate amongst members of the House of Representatives

The bill, sponsored by Hon. Sada Soli (APC, Katsina), is titled, “A Bill for an Act to Establish Non-Governmental and Civil Society Organizations Agency for the Promotion of Social Development Activities in Nigeria and for Related Matters (HB. 941).”

The bill was seeking to provide a legislative framework and regulate the activities of NGOs and civil society organisations (CSOs) in the country.

THE WHISTLER gathered that in July 2022, the same bill was sponsored by Soli in the 9th House of Representatives. In 2017, Buba Jubrin similarly sponsored a bill that sought to regulate NGOs and CSOs.

The bill passed a second reading at the House and was subsequently referred to the Committee on Civil Society Organisations and Development Partners which was chaired by Hon. Peter Akpatason (APC, Edo).

However, on the day of the public hearing of the bill, scores of protesters marched to the National Assembly asking that the bill be dropped. Members of the CSOs interpreted the bill as an attempt by the government to muzzle civil societies.

The bill was stepped down on Thursday after the Minority Leader, Hon. Kingsley Chinda (PDP, Rivers), spoke against it, describing it as sensitive considering that it touches religious bodies.

“It is a very sensitive bill, do churches and mosques fall under NGO that they should be regulated? The House should tread with care and I think it should be stepped down,” he stated.

On his part, Hon. Bello Kumo (APC, Gombe) who spoke in favour of the bill said religious bodies needed to be regulated.

“The bill should guide the activities of the NGOs including our religious bodies, and there should be small adjustments so that the religious bodies can be protected. NGOs should be able to carry out their activities within the guidance of the law”.

Presiding over plenary, the Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas (APC, Kaduna), called for the debate to be halted and the bill to be stepped down so that it can be considered next week pending the availability of copies for all lawmakers.

“The Bill so discussed is a very sensitive matter and the bill should be circulated to all members to study it thoroughly. We seek your indulgence to continue the debate next Thursday,” Abbas concluded.