Speaker of Anambra State House of Assembly Somtochukwu Udeze has called for appropriate legislation that would pave the way for civil society organisations (CSOs) to be involved in governance programmes in the country.
He described the roles of CSOs as crucial in deepening democratic practice and fostering development in all critical areas, especially in health, education, security, agriculture, etc., but lamented that existing regulatory provisions are stifling their operations.
Speaker Udeze made the call in his keynote address at a one-day South East regional conference on improving the regulatory environment for CSO operations in Nigeria, which was held yesterday in Awka, Anambra State.
The conference, themed “Building Strategic Partnerships for a Sustainable Operational Environment for the Non-profit Sector in Nigeria,” was organised by the Community of Practice on Civic Space Strengthening, funded by the European Union, and attended by CSO operators from the five South East zone states of Anambra, Abia Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo.
Also in attendance were senior officials of the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), the attorneys general of the five South East states, and some lawmakers from Anambra and Enugu states.
Speaker Udeze stated that CSOs play an integral role in the socioeconomic and political development of nations, arguing that they provide a voice for the marginalised, hold governments accountable, and serve as catalysts for development across sectors such as health, education, human rights, and gender equality.
“However, despite their significant contributions, CSOs face numerous operational challenges, ranging from limited financial resources and regulatory constraints to institutional barriers that hinder their effectiveness”, Udeze lamented.
Stating that CSOs’ presence in government activities confers legitimacy, trust, and confidence in the people of the government, Speaker Udeze urged that governments at all levels, including the federal and sub-national should profile and categorise various CSOs in their respective states according to their areas of specialisations and get them involved in the various critical sectors.
Member of the steering committee of the conference, Dr Kelechukwu Okezie from the Community of Practice on Civic Space Strengthening, stated that the conference was designed to come up with an appropriate blueprint that would create a conducive operational environment for CSO.
In separate speeches, various CSO stakeholders lamented that cumbersome registration procedures, taxation, and poor partnerships by federal and state governments were among the major challenges hindering the organisations’ activities.
