Some NGOs fund terrorism – Reps member
Umar Buba Jibril, deputy majority leader of the house of representatives, says the non-governmental organisation (NGO) regulation bill is in the interest of Nigerians.
On Thursday, Chidi Odinkalu, former chairman of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), launched a campaign against the bill about to be considered and passed by the national assembly.
Odinkalu urged Nigerians to rise up and resist the “totalitarian” bill.
But in a statement on Friday, Jibril who is the sponsor of the bill said the legislation is aimed at ensuring that there is transparency and accountability in the way and manner NGOs collect funds.
While stating that the bill is not peculiar to Nigeria, the lawmaker said the proposed law is seeking that funds collected by these organisations are used for Nigerians.
He clarified that “religious bodies and organisations are not NGOs. our quasi-financial institutions at local levels are not NGOs! These organisations have existed for centuries to serve businesses and commerce of our market women and traders.
The statement further read: “However, recent developments have shown that some people registered NGOs, solicited for funds and disappeared. That happened recently in the north-east. Some NGOs are used to fund the activities of terrorist and insurgents.
“The NGO bill therefore is primarily to set up a commission to regulate their activities and provide a platform for robust relationships between them and the government for the interests of Nigerians.
“In addition it is to ensure transparency and accountability in the ways and manners the NGOs collect moneys and use them for Nigerians. Finally, the way the NGOs are reacting to this wonderful and well packaged bill particularly SERAP is not only shameful but condemnable.
“The Nigerian parliament is an institution governed by rules and traditions. When a bill is for public hearing you go there and present your views like other interested Nigerians and invited cooperate bodies and government agencies for the standing committee to do justice to the bill. Period.
“Going on cheap propaganda and blackmail and even calling on world bodies including the United Nation to help you withdraw a bill from our national assembly will not help you.”
