Civil society organizations, CSOs, in Ogun State have condemned the multiple levies, overlapping regulatory requirements and duplication of registration process imposed by federal and state agencies in the state.
The CSOs urged government to harmonise all regulations affecting their operations.
They also called on the Ogun State government to eliminate policies that commercialize their operations and collaborate or dialogue with them on matters affecting the civic space and non-profit sector.
The societies self-regulatory Community of Practice, CoP, expressed displeasure with the situation on Tuesday during a media briefing on Civil Society Self Regulatory Compliance, in Abeokuta.
Addressing journalists, Akinpelu Akintayo, a member of CoP, stressed that as representative of citizens’ interests, CSOs contribute significantly to the monitoring of public service delivery, advocates for vulnerable populations and supports government efforts to achieve sustainable development outcomes.
He frowned at persistent misconceptions that CSOs operate without regulation, the multiple registrations, renewals, fees and urged government regulatory bodies, especially the Corporate Affairs Commission, CAC, and Federal Inland Revenue Service, FIRS, to adopt efficient, supportive and digital-friendly systems that ease compliance rather than hinder their work.
“Driving accountability and good governance by purging our sector of irregularities and boosting our internal compliance structures, COs in Ogun State are positioning themselves from a vantage point of strength.
“A self-compliant civil society has the moral authority to demand transparency from the Ogun State Government hence a vibrant civil society sector remains essential to good governance, democratic participation, and sustainable development.
“We believe that strengthening compliance with existing regulations, rather than creating additional layers of regulation is the most effective approach to promoting accountability while preserving the civic space necessary for CSOs to contribute meaningfully to development in Ogun state and Nigeria as a whole” Akintayo added.
Meanwhile, the CoP urged all civic organizations operating within the state to comply with all applicable legal and regulatory requirements and uphold the highest standards of transparency and accountability.
They also called for self-regulatory initiatives and capacity-building programs, and the promotion of responsible and ethical practices that strengthen public trust in the sector.
