Stakeholders Push for Legislative Overhaul to Boost CSO Effectiveness in Nigeria

Civil society stakeholders and government representatives have jointly advocated for sweeping legislative reforms to remove regulatory barriers hindering the smooth operations of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in Nigeria.

The appeal was made during the 2025 South-South Regional Conference held in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, hosted by Global Rights in partnership with the European Union Delegation to Nigeria and West Africa. Themed “Scaling Policy to Action – Strengthening the Regulatory Environment for Sustainable CSO Operations at the Sub-national Level,” the conference highlighted systemic challenges and potential reforms for nonprofit groups.

Former Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare in Akwa Ibom, Dr. Ini Adiakpan, pointed out the financial and procedural burdens posed by multiple registration requirements across various government agencies. She proposed the creation of a centralized registration system for CSOs to simplify engagements with authorities and reduce overhead costs.

“Civil society organizations shouldn’t have to register separately with departments like women affairs, youth development, or environment,” Adiakpan stated. “A one-stop registration process would streamline interactions and cut unnecessary expenses.”

Delivering the keynote address, Deputy Speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, KufreAbasi Edidem, called for a comprehensive review of current laws impacting CSOs, particularly the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) 2020, which falls under the National Assembly’s purview. He stressed that such reforms must be data-driven and informed by expert input from lawyers, journalists, and policy analysts.

Edidem emphasized the importance of engaging both state and federal legislative bodies, including the Law Reform Commission, to ensure relevant laws are updated or repealed to reflect the realities of CSOs’ operational needs. He also cited legal exemptions in state and federal laws that CSOs should be aware of, such as those under Akwa Ibom’s Tenement Rate Law and Business Premises Registration Law, as well as provisions within CAMA and the VAT Act.

The lawmaker pledged to leverage his legislative influence to support enabling policies that promote effective civil society operations in Akwa Ibom and across the South-South region.

Abiodun Baiyewu, Executive Director of Global Rights, highlighted progress since the 2024 conference series, especially in forging partnerships to improve the operating environment for CSOs. She expressed optimism that this year’s engagements would translate into practical reforms.

“This conference aims to continue the dialogue and implement a unified regulatory framework that reduces duplicative processes, improves funding access, and fosters inclusive policy development,” Baiyewu said. “We also plan to introduce compliance tools and establish a regional task force for improved coordination.”

A representative of the European Union Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS affirmed the EU’s commitment to enhancing dialogue between CSOs and government bodies to create a supportive legal and policy atmosphere for nonprofit work.

“These conferences are vital forums where civil society leaders and policymakers can identify and agree on reforms needed to foster effective operations of CSOs in Nigeria,” she concluded.