In the growing twist over allegation of abuse of ethics by some Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), the House of Representatives has resolved to investigate all Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) operating in Nigeria.
It was gathered that the lower legislative chamber made the resolution on Tuesday, 24th, September 2019 while debating a motion on Nigeria’s security challenges.
Harping on the issue, Femi Gbajabiamila, the Speaker, also hinted that the lawmakers may reintroduce a bill seeking to regulate the operations of the NGOs.
The bill was introduced in the last session; even though it caused controversy but it will now have to be debated afresh.
Gbajabiamila added that the security chiefs had during a meeting with the House leadership on Monday, 23rd September 2019 complained of the activities of some of the NGOs identified as “bad eggs”.
The Speaker was quoted saying that "With the emerging revelations from the meeting with the Security Chiefs, this time the House will invite the NGOs and may need to revisit the bill, because for sure, the genuine NGOs will not want few rotten eggs to spoil the whole basket"
The development was a fallout of an impasse between the Nigerian Army (NA) and Action Against Hunger (AAH); an NGO who was accused of flattering relationship with Boko-Haram insurgent group through provision of food, Medicare and other services. The Army even threatened to shut down its activities within the North-Eastern sub-region.
It can be recalled that during the 8th Assembly, Barau Jibrin sponsored a billed titled "The NGO Regulatory Commission Bill" which seeks to supervise, monitor and coordinate the activities of Civil Society OrganiZations (CSOs) and Community-Based Organizations (CBOs).
However, the bill did not see the light of the day as many Nigerians expressed their outright rejection including Chidi Odinkalu, former chairman of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).
As expected, the NGOs, CSOs, CBOs and their cronies stood against the bill arguing that it will be used to stifle their operations and that, necessary laws have been put in place to regulate the NGOs already.