The NGO bill sponsored by Umar Buba Jibril, deputy majority leader of the house of representatives is still a cause of contention in the country. Senator Shehu Sani, Chidi Odinkalu and Oby Ezekwesili have all spoken against it. Ayo Sogunro has joined the list of the opposition. He approaches it from the standpoint of freedom of association.
See below:
In the next few tweets, permit me to enlighten you on the freedom of association and assembly, in view of the #NGOBill and it supporters.
— AYO SOGUNRO (@ayosogunro) September 26, 2017
As usual, it all starts with the Nigerian Constitution. Although flawed, it manages to reproduce international standards on human rights. pic.twitter.com/vfCe8f1X0b
— AYO SOGUNRO (@ayosogunro) September 26, 2017
Reminder: we borrowed these words from international law, particularly the Universal Declaration of Human Rights — which binds Nigeria. pic.twitter.com/N1CFTczvPn
— AYO SOGUNRO (@ayosogunro) September 26, 2017
Int'l law, therefore, recommends best practices for regulating civil society all of which are in potential of violation by the #NGOBill pic.twitter.com/75FtruXLqZ
— AYO SOGUNRO (@ayosogunro) September 26, 2017
The argument of corruption is a function of our general policing system. It will not be solved by making civil society work hard to do.
— AYO SOGUNRO (@ayosogunro) September 26, 2017
Are there corrupt/fraudulent associations? Yes. Will making civil society a harder space to work in prevent the corrupt ones? Not by itself.
— AYO SOGUNRO (@ayosogunro) September 26, 2017
The only thing the #NGOBill is certain to do is to give the govt even more powers in the only area it has not yet fully controlled.
— AYO SOGUNRO (@ayosogunro) September 26, 2017
In the end, corruption continues. It is the small organisations and the dissident associations who would suffer the proposed regulations.
— AYO SOGUNRO (@ayosogunro) September 26, 2017
[Read also]: Thread: Why you must fight the “dangerous” NGO bill”
What the NGO bill seeks to do
bcos you don't need NGO bill to monitor and audit NGOs. The Bill, on the other hand, will shackle civil rights & societies. foresight needed
— Rikimaru Tenchu (@IamRikimaru) September 26, 2017
Some people struggle to make life better for communities and some of you think having them file paper in Abuja every 2 years is ok? #NGOBill
— AYO SOGUNRO (@ayosogunro) September 26, 2017
These is how most of the NGOs that sustain social services in this country are. Instead of supporting them, we want to make them sweat.
— AYO SOGUNRO (@ayosogunro) September 26, 2017
Because Ogundamisi has mentioned millions, we think ALL NGOs have millions. We are ok with burdening them for services they provide FREELY.
— AYO SOGUNRO (@ayosogunro) September 26, 2017
The truly sad part abt the debate on the NGO BIll is that none of the people on twitter (at least most) are indigent @ayosogunro /1
— Rikimaru Tenchu (@IamRikimaru) September 26, 2017
or in the vulnerable class of society who require assistance or need the assistance of advocacy/civil groups whom this bill will shackle /2
— Rikimaru Tenchu (@IamRikimaru) September 26, 2017
Shouldn't the Gov't be auditing the defaulting mega NGOs and prosecuting/penalizing where necessary, rather than this sinister ploy?
— Rikimaru Tenchu (@IamRikimaru) September 26, 2017
Shouldn't the Gov't be auditing the defaulting mega NGOs and prosecuting/penalizing where necessary, rather than this sinister ploy?
— Rikimaru Tenchu (@IamRikimaru) September 26, 2017
other policies and bottlenecks required of them to function depending on the area of focus, but the gov't somehow magically fails to monitor
— Rikimaru Tenchu (@IamRikimaru) September 26, 2017
be used when needed to deter or disapprove activities of civil rights groups anytime it doesn't favor the govt in power. This is so glaring
— Rikimaru Tenchu (@IamRikimaru) September 26, 2017
I'm shocked we are not all fighting it. First, it was social media monitoring, then phones and messages, now NGOs LOL, don't worry…
— Rikimaru Tenchu (@IamRikimaru) September 26, 2017
if it hasn't gotten to you yet, it is coming! Then you will understand
— Rikimaru Tenchu (@IamRikimaru) September 26, 2017
A sorry affair
I am beginning to worry that Nigerians have fully lost all understanding of human rights and human dignity. This is very very frightening.
— AYO SOGUNRO (@ayosogunro) September 26, 2017
The govt ignores our rights. But NGOs provide services to us freely. The govt decides to be strict on ALL NGOs. We applaud the govt. Ah!
— AYO SOGUNRO (@ayosogunro) September 26, 2017
If this is not evidence that there is a curse working on Nigerians, I don't know what it is. This thing is making me turn superstitious.
— AYO SOGUNRO (@ayosogunro) September 26, 2017
Because you heard one NGO got million dollars, your eyes have shined. You cannot THINK about the thousands of small NGOs doing God's work.
— AYO SOGUNRO (@ayosogunro) September 26, 2017
Even business people crumble under our govt's oversight, what do you think will happen with NGOs who are not in the work for the money?
— AYO SOGUNRO (@ayosogunro) September 26, 2017
By the time our generation is done with this country, govt will be useless, business will be useless, and now even NGOs will be useless.
— AYO SOGUNRO (@ayosogunro) September 26, 2017
exactly my point, the fact that some people are enriching themselves by taking advantage of the magnanimous organisations abroad, shouldn't
— highflyer (@ibrahim247) September 26, 2017
be the basis of promulgating harsh laws which will be detrimental to the few organisations who actually perform humanitarian activities.
— highflyer (@ibrahim247) September 26, 2017
Oh well,
How else will our law makers justify their bogus cheques? ? https://t.co/TmqqG7C9Gw
— YoungLecturer (@TheRealMosesB) September 26, 2017
But laws in Nigeria are only made for the poor. The rich don't obey laws because they believe d laws weren't made for them. That's sadly ?? https://t.co/UpWk7sT1u9
— Ebong (@EBONGIE) September 26, 2017
Awful.
Reformed social media monitoring spirit
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