Stakeholders to CSOs: Engage lawmakers to address legal, regulatory barriers

Stakeholders have urged Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) to engage with the new administration, especially the lawmakers to help address legal and regulatory barriers that impede their effectiveness.

They spoke Wednesday in Abuja at the 2nd National Conference on Civil Society Operational Environment, organised by the CSO Accountability and Transparency Initiative (CATi) and co-funded by the European Union, British Council and other international organizations.

The two-day programme is themed, “Sustaining public benefit from CSOs through collaboration and enabling regulation”.

Speaking, Amb. Samuela Isopi, Head of the EU delegation to Nigeria, said CSOs must set an agenda for lawmakers on enabling an environment for a civil space.

“There should be an expansion of CSOs at the national and sub-national level. With the recent change in government and the inauguration of the 10th Assembly, civil society actors can seize the opportunity to engage with the assembly and set the agenda for the type of engagement they would like to see in the years to come,” said Isopi, represented by her deputy, Zisimus Vargoes.

Victor Chukwuemele, Chairman, House Committee on Civil Society and Development Matters, said: “Civil Society plays a major role in the development of the nation. However, the CSOs should always see the government as their friend because both need to work together. CSOs need to close communication gaps so that laws and issues concerning them can easily be communicated.”

Lois Auta, Executive Director, Cedar Seed Foundation, said Persons with Disabilities are being denied their rights, adding that most structures in Nigeria do not avail them easy access to operate.

“PWDs are part of the labours that are developing the country. But, sadly, the level of participation for citizens with disabilities is at a zero level. Talking about the operational environment in Nigeria, most structures were not designed for PWDs to easily gain access,” Auta said.

Funke Akinleye, Board Chairman, CATI, said the conference would facilitate collaborative endeavours aimed at enhancing the regulatory environment for CSOs.

She said: “The conference will foster continued engagement across diverse stakeholder groups, to gain a shared understanding of the gains, issues, challenges, gaps and proposed solutions to further facilitate an enabling environment for CSOs to operate within the context of regulations and adherence to best practice and ethical standards.”