The House of Representatives has hinted that it will soon initiate the processes of regulating the activities of Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) in the country.
The development comes days after the Nigerian army accused NGOs of sponsoring and abetting terrorist activities in the North-East.
Igbere TV recalls that the military, recently, shut down the operations of Action Against Hunger, an NGO providing relief for victims of Boko Haram in the region.
The army accused the organisation of providing foods and other “vital materials” for Boko Haram insurgents.
At the resumption of sitting on Tuesday, the House said lawmakers may soon re-introduce a bill seeking to regulate the operations of NGOs.
The bill in question, was first introduced during the Yakubu Dogara-led 8th House of Reps, which will now be re-introduced and debated afresh.
According to the Speaker, Rt Hon Femi Gbajabiamila, the green chambers equally resolved to investigate the activities of all the NGOs in the country.
Gbajabiamila said security chiefs had during a meeting with the House leadership on Monday, complained of the activities of some of the NGOs identified as “bad eggs”.
“Buba Jubrin in the 8th Assembly sponsored the NGO bill, and there was a lot of public outcry,” he said.
“But with the revelations from the meeting with the security chiefs, this time we will invite the NGOs and we may need to revisit the bill, because we are sure they will not want few rotten eggs to spoil the whole basket, we will invite them.
“The house also approved a motion asking relevant committees to investigate all NGOs in Nigeria to investigate their total number and source of funding”, Gbajabiamila added.
Igbere TV gathers some of the highlights of the NGO Regulatory Commission Bill to include supervision, monitoring and coordination of their activities.
