Shehu Sani Vows To Fight ‘Dangerous’ NGO Bill In Senate

Shehu Sani, senator representing Kaduna Central, has waded into the on-going debate on a bill seeking to regulate Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO).

In a Facebook post on Saturday, Sani described the bill as dangerous, saying he will oppose it in the Senate, as the National Assembly is expected to resume plenary next Tuesday.

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The senator explained he will not let the bill fly in a bid to “protect and preserve our fundamental rights to freedom of expression and of assembly”.

The bill which has generated controversy across the country states that “funds pledged by donors (to NGOs) must be disclosed before implementation of project, including mode of disbursement and condition attached to the funding by donor. Funds from overseas must be channeled through normal banking system”.

Chidi Odinkalu, former chairman of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), has been among those leading the opposition of the bill, in the National Assembly.

The activist had days back released a video on why the bill should not see the light of day.

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However, Umar Jibril, deputy majority leader of the house of representatives, assured of his support for the proposed legislation.

Opposing the bill on Saturday, Sani said: “The increasing cases of human rights abuses and intolerance to divergent views across the country makes it dangerous to endorse or support any bill aimed at regulating the activities of the NGOs,” Sani said.

“I will stand against this bill to protect and preserve our fundamental rights to freedom of expression and of assembly.

“The tendency of the bill when it becomes law [to] be abused by people in the position of power is clear.”

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