CSOs Pressure A’Ibom Assembly To Fast-Track Harmonisation Bill, Seek End To Multiple Registration, Levies
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Civil society organisations and governance stakeholders in Akwa Ibom State have intensified pressure on the State House of Assembly to urgently pass the Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) Harmonisation Bill.
The stakeholders in a town hall meeting and media briefing organised by the Community of Practice (CoP) on Civic Space Strengthening with support from Global Rights, held in Uyo, described the proposed legislation as a critical reform that will eliminate multiple registration regimes, curb bureaucratic bottlenecks and strengthen civic space across the state.
Stakeholders said the bill would create a harmonised and transparent framework for the registration and regulation of civil society organisations, replacing what they described as a fragmented system that has imposed duplicate registration requirements and multiple levies on non-governmental organisations.
They commended the Akwa Ibom State Government for improving its performance on the National Regulatory Environment Dashboard, where the state attained a peak score of 50, but maintained that the achievement should serve as a foundation for institutional reforms rather than an end in itself.
According to the communiqué, participants unanimously endorsed the establishment of a single CSO Registry under the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs as the sole entry point for registration of civil society organisations in the state.
The stakeholders insisted that “the registry must stand as the singular, absolute point of entry for CSO registration in the State,” stressing that parallel registration processes and duplicate levies imposed by different Ministries, Departments and Agencies should be abolished immediately.
They also threw their weight behind the bill’s proposed digital registration system, describing it as a major safeguard against corruption and administrative abuse.
According to them, “By digitalising registration and document exchange, the Bill strips public officials of the predatory administrative discretion that has historically bred delay and extortion,” adding that the online platform should fully comply with Nigeria’s Digital Privacy Act to guarantee transparency, accountability and data protection.
The communiqué further endorsed what participants described as a “twin-track” implementation strategy, urging the state government to issue an immediate regulatory circular through the Office of the Head of Service should legislative assent take longer than expected.
They explained that such a measure would ensure that the harmonisation framework begins operation without unnecessary delays while the legislative process runs its course.
On governance of the proposed registry, the stakeholders demanded safeguards against political interference, insisting that civil society organisations must independently nominate three of the five members of the governing board and that every member should possess equal voting rights.
They further called for uniform qualification standards for members of the proposed appeal board, recommending a minimum of 10 years’ direct civil society experience for nominees, saying anything lower would create an unjustifiable double standard and weaken public confidence in the process.
Although the European Union-funded project supporting the initiative formally ends on July 13, participants resolved to sustain advocacy beyond the funding cycle, declaring that “the reform agenda belongs to Akwa Ibom’s civic and governance community, not to any single funding cycle.”
The stakeholders also assigned a major responsibility to the media, urging journalists and media organisations to sustain public enlightenment and advocacy until the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly gives priority to the bill and passes what they described as a landmark legislation capable of strengthening civic participation, improving accountability and creating a more transparent operating environment for civil society organisations in the state.
