By Joy Odor
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and other Non Governmental Organization (NGO) have rejected some of the certain provisions of bill to amend the Company and Allied Matters Act 2020, proposed by the Senate.
The sponsor of the Bill for an Act to Amend the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA), 2020 Non Governmental Organization (NGO) in Nigeria and their Compliance with Provision of this Act and for other Matters before the National Assembly, Senator Ibrahim Oloriegbe in his speech said the proposed amendments were meant to strengthen the operations of the NGOs in Nigeria.
The public hearing organised by the Senate Committee on Trade and Investment; Diaspora and the NGOs was kicked against on the wrong to mandate the NGOs to submit their audit reports twice in a year.
Presenting their submission by the Director of Legal and Public Affairs, Mrs. Comfort Chigbue and signed by CAN President, Rev. Samson Ayokunle, the General Secretary Joseph Daramola insisted that the amendments being sought to CAMA was repressive and would infringe on the fundamental human rights.
CAN kicked against Section 839 of the bill and declared that it negates the principles of freedom of association, religion, freedom to own a property and freedom of expression as provided for in Sections 38, 39, 40, 43, and 44 of tur 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).
Mrs. Comfort also rejected the appointment of interim managers to take over the duties of their board of trustees whenever there was crisis, informing that the organisations did not need third parties to solve their issues without the intervention of a third party.
They claimed that the provisions to merger among smaller NGOs would end up in crisis.
Part of the memo read, “CAN is also calling for amendments of sections 842 of the CAMA 2020 which gives power to direct transfer of credit in dormant account to the Corporation Affairs Commission.
“This undermine the provisions of Section 37 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) which guarantees the rights to privacy” it said.
Mrs. Comfort called for the deletion of section 854 of CAMA, 2020 which gives the Minister the right to permit leTrees or other characters, signs or symbols, as it is inconsistent with section 39 of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria providing for freedom of expression.
She advised the Senate to expunge section 839 and 854 from CAMA, 2020 but maintained section 825, 826, 827, 828, 829, 830, 831, 832, 833, 834, 835, 836, 837, 838 of CAMA 2020.
According to CAN, these sections are good enough to regulate Incorporated Trustees since they are consistent with the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.
