Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in Ogun State have called on the state government to harmonise regulatory requirements affecting non-profit organisations and refrain from introducing policies that impose multiple registration and compliance obligations on the sector.
The appeal was made during a media briefing on Civil Society Self-Regulatory Compliance organised by the Civil Society Organisations Self-Regulatory Community of Practice (CoP), Ogun State, with support from Global Rights, in Abeokuta on Tuesday.
Speaking on behalf of the Community of Practice, Steering Committee member, Akintayo Akinpelu, alongside fellow committee members Adesina Adefolahan and Sola Afariogun, stressed that civil society organisations remain indispensable partners in democratic governance, transparency advocacy, social welfare, and grassroots development.
The group noted that accountability within the sector must begin with self-regulation and compliance with existing laws and standards.
Akinpelu said while CSOs play critical roles in monitoring public service delivery, advocating for vulnerable populations, and supporting development initiatives, organisations operating within the sector must uphold the highest standards of transparency and integrity.
He expressed concern over growing perceptions that civil society organisations operate without regulation, describing such claims as misleading. According to him, existing legal and institutional frameworks at both federal and state levels already provide substantial oversight for the establishment and operation of CSOs in Nigeria.
Highlighting efforts undertaken by the Community of Practice to strengthen compliance among organisations in Ogun State, Akinpelu disclosed that the body has provided capacity-building programmes for over 100 organisations, supported compliance with relevant laws, promoted awareness of regulatory requirements, and encouraged voluntary self-regulation.
Despite these efforts, the group identified several challenges facing civil society organisations, including overlapping regulatory demands from different government agencies, the commercialisation of registration and renewal processes, and limited support for grassroots organisations seeking to meet compliance requirements.
Consequently, the CSOs urged the Ogun State Government to harmonise all regulatory frameworks affecting the sector, eliminate duplication in registration procedures, avoid excessive fees that could commercialise non-profit operations, and strengthen engagement with civil society stakeholders on issues affecting the civic space.
The organisations also called on regulatory agencies, particularly the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) and the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), to maintain efficient, supportive, and digitised compliance systems that promote accountability without hindering the operations of civil society groups.
During an interactive session with journalists, Akinpelu explained that the initiative was designed to build the capacity of organisations and connect them with resources necessary to meet regulatory obligations.
He reminded stakeholders that all registered non-governmental organisations are required to file annual returns with the Corporate Affairs Commission and noted that the Community of Practice has consistently encouraged member organisations to comply with such statutory obligations.
According to him, compliance efforts have also helped distinguish legitimate organisations from individuals falsely presenting themselves as civil society groups.
"We are trying our best to ensure that organisations associated with us are compliant. Today, anyone can verify the status of an organisation through the CAC portal and determine whether it is active or not," he said.
Akinpelu argued that establishing additional regulatory structures for CSOs would be unnecessary and burdensome, noting that agencies such as the Corporate Affairs Commission, Financial Reporting Council, and Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) already perform oversight functions relating to registration, financial reporting, and accountability.
He maintained that strengthening existing regulatory mechanisms would be more effective than creating new layers of regulation.
The civil society advocate further criticised the practice of requiring organisations already registered by the federal government through the CAC to undergo separate registration processes at the state level.
According to him, such duplication creates avoidable administrative burdens and diverts organisations from their primary mandates of community service and development.
The Community of Practice reaffirmed its commitment to promoting accountability, transparency, and ethical conduct within the civil society sector, stressing that self-regulation remains a proactive tool for sustaining public trust and enhancing the sector's contribution to good governance and sustainable development in Ogun State.
Akinpelu added that a self-compliant civil society possesses the moral authority to demand transparency and accountability from government institutions while continuing to serve as a vital partner in advancing democratic participation and development.
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