News

Stakeholders seek legislative reforms for effective CSOs’ operations in Nigeria

Published

8 months ago

June 24, 2025

Stakeholders from the Civic space and government actors have called for legislative reforms that would remove every regulatory hurdle and improve efficient operations of Civil Society Organisations, CSOs in Nigeria.

The stakeholders made the call in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State capital during the 2025 South South Regional Conference on Improving Regulatory Environment for CSO operations in Nigeria organized by Global Rights with support from European Union Delegation to Nigeria and West Africa.

The theme of the 2025 conference is ”Scaling Policy to Action- Strengthening the Regulatory Environment for Sustainable CSO Operations at the Sub-national Level.”

The Former Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare in Akwa Ibom, Dr Ini Adiakpanin observed that CSOs had complained about multiplicity of registration requirement with government agencies with their attendant financial burden.

She called for a one-stop shop where one registration would cover everything about the government.

Adiakpan also noted that necessary policies should be made and laws reviewed to allow CSOs in each state pay a fixed amount for registrations given the dearth of funding for most of them and humanitarian nature of their services.

She said, ”CSOs complain about multiplicity of registration with government, some with women affairs, the other one would be youth development even environment. The issue had been, why don’t we have like a one stop shop where we register once so that from one registration you can use it to deal with everything about government? Not paying in different places.”

The Keynote speaker, KufreAbasi Edidem, in his address explained that before initiating reforms, there must be holistic review of the existing laws and regulations affecting CSOs, which according to him includes, understanding their objectives, there applicability, and areas needing revision.

Edidem who is the Deputy Speaker of Akwa Ibom State House Assembly further explained that experts such as lawyers , journalists, policy analyst should be engaged in the process while data driven and well articulated report is presented to both legislative and executive stakeholders.

He encouraged the CSOs to embark on a wider consultations with the Senate, House of Representatives, State Houses of Assembly as well as Law Reform Commission stressing that the commission is mandated to review outdated laws and advise government accordingly as only after proper consultations can the legislature be guided on which law to amend or repel.

He admitted that while the state houses of Assembly play a role especially in oversight the primary responsibility lies with the National Assembly because many of the laws regulating CSOs especially the Company and Allied Matter Act 2020 CAMA falls under the exclusive legislative list and once the National Assembly legislates on a subject, the state legislature cannot enact conflicting laws except in areas not covered.

”It is also important for CSOs to understand legal exceptions that already exist for example, section 10(f) of the tenement rate law cap 151 law of Akwa Ibom State, 2000 exempts non profit organisations from paying tenement rate, section 3 of the business premises registration law cap 124 also empowers the commissioner to grant exemptions to CSOs, similar provisions exist at the federal level under CAMA and VAT act.” He added.

He, however promised to use relevant legislative tools at his disposal to ensure enabling policies are enacted for effective operation of CSOs in Akwa Ibom state and South South region at large

Earlier in her remarks, the executive Director of Global Rights, Abiodun Baiyewu recounted the significant progress made by the organisation within one year after the 2024 regional conferences especially in the area of partnership for a sustainable operational environment for CSOs.

Baiyewu also expressed hope that the 2025 conferences would create actionable steps that will allow civil society actors optimize their impact and function freely in their humanitarian services to communities.

”This year’s conferences seek to continue the conversation started last year and consolidate the implementation of a harmonized regulatory framework either via the pathway of a policy or law to eliminate redundant registrations, enhance funding opportunities and foster inclusive policy development.

The 2025 conferences will also introduce the CSO community to tools expected to improve CSO compliance, to extant laws and establish a regional task force for coordination,” Baiyewu noted.

On the import of the conference, the European Union Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, said it was aimed at strengthening partnership and regular interactions between CSOs and State government agencies for a favorable regulatory environment to operate.

”These conferences are designed to be meeting points for civil society stakeholders, state and federal government actors to meet, discuss and agree on key issues relating to laws and regulations that affect civil society operations.” She stated.

News

Man in shock after lady he lodged with in a hotel in Abuja flees with his car and other valuables

Published

2 days ago

February 6, 2026

Ekwutos Blog

A Nigerian man is currently in shock after a young lady identified as Precious Chinyere , whom he took to a hotel in the Asokoro area in the FCT for a romantic getaway allegedly fled with his car and other personal belongings on Thursday, February 5,

The distraught man and Precious had visited the hotel and opted for a short time stay. Things took a different in the evening when the man noticed Precious had left the hotel room without notifying him and took along with her some of his personal belongings including phones and laptop and also his car.

The victim immediately reported the incident to the police.

When contacted, the spokesperson of the FCT police command, SP Josephine Adeh, told LIB that the matter is currently being investigated and that efforts are being made to apprehend the suspect.

News

US Reacts As De@th Toll In Kwara Terror Attacks Hits 200

Published

2 days ago

February 6, 2026

Ekwutos Blog

The United States Mission in Nigeria has condemned the k!lling of more than 200 civilians in recent attacks on communities in Kwara State.

Recall that terrorists launched de@dly attacks on Woro and Nuku communities in Kaiama Local Government Area of the state on Tuesday night, k!lling unsuspecting citizens.

It was gathered that the gunmen invaded the villages, opened fire on residents and burned homes.

According to reports, the de@th toll from the unfortunate incident hit 200 on Thursday night.

Reacting, the US Mission Nigeria condemned the k!lling via a post on its official X handle.

The post reads, “The United States condemns the horrific attack in Kwara state in Nigeria, which claimed the lives of more than 160 people, with the de@th toll still unconfirmed and many still unaccounted for.

“We express our deepest condolences to the families of those affected by this senseless violence.

“We welcome President Tinubu’s order to deploy security forces to protect villages in the area and his directive to federal and state officials to provide aid to the community and bring the perpetrators of this atrocity to justice.”

News

“I’ll never settle for a barber, yahoo boy or a poor man” — nail tech’s list of men she says she can’t marry sparks reactions online

Published

2 days ago

February 6, 2026

Ekwutos Blog

A Nigerian nail technician has set social media talking after openly listing the kind of men she says she can never settle for.

In a now-viral post, she stated clearly that she refuses to “settle for less” and went on to mention professions and traits she considers a no-go area.

According to her, she can never settle for a barber, an aza man, a yahoo boy, a mechanic, an actor, a laundry man, a hype man, or a plumber. She also added that she wouldn’t marry a man with a high body count or a poor man.