Northern CSOs condemn banning NGOs in Zamfara

From: Mustapha Adamu, Kano

CivilSociety Organizations, CSOs in Northern Nigeria, under the aegis of Conference of Northern States Civil Society Network, CNSCSN, have condemned the ban of Nongovernmental Organizations, NGOs in Zamfara State.

DAILY NIGERIAN reports that the Zamfara state government had this week sacked all NGOs for allegedly aiding insecurity in the state.

However, in a press conference on the state of the nation, after its extra-ordinary meeting, held in Kano on Thursday, the CNSCSN described the ban as unconstitutional.

CNSCSN, through Ibrahim Waiya, President, Kano Civil Society Forum Kano state, KCSFK, on behalf of 19 others who signed the press statement, therefore charged the Zamfara state government to immediately reverse the decision as according to it, it was infringement to the right of people as enshrined in 1999 constitution (as amended).

“We are also concerned on the increasingly continuous attempt by some governments at both national and states shrink the civic space in Nigeria.

“The recent decision of Zamfara state government banning the activities and operations of all NGOs in the state is not only condemnable but also a total contravention to the fundamental rights of Nigerians guaranteed in chapter four of the 1999 constitution as amended which provides the rights of association.

“We therefore call on Zamfara state Government to reverse this decision on the banning of the activities of NGOs in the state with immediate effect,” the CSOs appealed.

Mr Waiya disclosed that they were not supporting any NGOs committing illegal activities that fuel insecurity in Zamfara, but that an outright banning is uncalled for and condemnable.

The CNSCSN also condemned in strongest term, protests by some CSOs, calling for the immediate sack of chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC), Abdulrasheed Bawa.

They insisted that it was sponsored by “corrupt politicians.”

According to CSOs: “As professional career civil society actors, we are disturbed by the emerging trend where some political leaders occupying exalted positions in some states would stoop too low, to sponsor some Civil Society Organizations to organize protests against a public servant, who is empowered by law to undertake a crusade against corrupt persons in Nigeria.

“Unfortunately, such corrupt leaders have not only embezzled public money belonging to their state, but have also allowed their immediate family and relations to embezzle billions of public money meant for the people of their states.

“One of such states has been placed as one of the most backward in all indices of development.

“We wish to use this medium to inform such political leaders that they have no hiding place, and no amount of hiring the civil society organizations staging protests on some streets could save them and their families alleged to be involved in corruption from the hand of the law.”

Ambassador Waiya further stated that: “We, therefore, as Conference of Northern States Civil Society Networks representing states-based civil society networks/coalitions from the 19 Northern States and FCT, wish to categorically put on record that the groups protesting in some parts of Lagos State do not represent civil society organizations from all over the country.

“Therefore, they are not speaking for us or on our behalf, and we do not in any way share in their opinion calling for the sacking of the EFCC Chairman.”

According to him: “The current leadership of the EFCC has not only changed the approach on the fight against corruption, but have also systematically introduced manpower, encouraged the culture of training and retraining of the staff for more professionalism and effective discharge of their duties, imbibed human relations standard, improved standard of internal mechanism on staff discipline and administration for best practices, as well as increased integrity of the institution, in and outside the country.”

The group urged President Muhammadu Buhari, “to disregard and completely ignore the calls for the sack of the EFCC Chairman by the paid protesters as it is being sponsored by a state Governor that himself and immediate family members are enmeshed in alleged corruption.”

They, however, passed a vote-of-confieence on the EFCC Chairman.

The Conference, while supporting the Federal Government cashless policy, however, faulted its implementation, pointing out that the Federal Government should come out with shoet-term and long-term strategies to ensure smooth implementation of the policy, looking at the percentage of literate people in Nigeria, “because when you are talking about cashless policy, you are talking about going digital.”

Ambassador Waiya stated that: “We are, however, of the opinion that the redesigned Naira notes and cashless policies are good initiatives that could help in the development of the Nigerian economy, reduction of corrupt practices, and complement other efforts in tackling insecurity and, as well, facilitate a more global economy economic integration”.