In demanding the passage of the controversial non-governmental organization, NGO Bill, Rights activist and Former National Secretary of Labour Party (LP), Dr Kayode Ajulo has threatened to take legal steps. The NGO bill however intends to establish an agency to be known as the NGO Regulatory Commission. The body, if created, will be saddled with the responsibility of issuing licenses to all NGOs and such licenses are subject to renewal after two years of issuance.
While speaking with newsmen in Abuja, the lawyer said, “Human traffickers, shylock businessmen and dubious individuals have hijacked non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in Nigeria, stressing that they now use NGOs to defraud hard working Nigerians.”
Ajulo reacted to the raging controversy over plans by the House of Representatives to create a Commission that will regulate activities of NGOs in the country. He condemns Bishop Hassan Kukah for misinforming gullible Nigerians about the Bill, stating that such was against the teaching of Catholic Church.
Ajulo said, “There is the need for government to maintain control over these NGOs precisely because of their access to funds which needed to be accounted for. Passage of the bill only aimed at separating “wheat from the chaffs”, and not towards stifling genuine NGOs as being speculated. It is important for government to know the financial strength of every NGO, how funds are sourced, and the sources of the funds, what purpose it is used for and must also be audited to avoid corrupt tendencies and block funding of terrorism and civil unrest, ethnic rivalry among others.”
He further said, “Today in Nigeria, we have shylock businessmen, traffickers, and dubious individuals whose sole aim is to exploit the public masquerading as owners of NGOs and labelling themselves as activists thereby using this medium to confuse, mislead and defraud unsuspecting members of the public. This ugly trend must be checked and that is why I agree with this Bill which seeks to separate the wheat from the chaffs.”
Ajulo argued that rather than labeling the bill as the worst piece of legislation since return to democracy in 1999’, it could perhaps become the best. He urged Nigerians to get in touch with ourselves and ask what exactly do we want from this country. This bill which is intended to regulate the NGOs will no doubt reposition it for optimal performance.