CAN, other stakeholders disagree as Senate moves to review CAMA – Nexus News
There was a sharp disagreement yesterday between the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN and other non- governmental organizations due to the move by the Senate to review the Company and Allied Matters Act 2020.
Both CAN and the officials disagreed with certain provisions of the bill, just as the umbrella body of Christians in Nigeria stressed that the amendments being sought in the CAMA were repressive and would affect the fundamental human rights of the groups’ promoters.
According to the officials, it is wrong to direct the NGOs to submit their audit reports two times in a year.
They had the discussion yesterday at the public hearing organized by the Senate Committee on Trade and Investment, Diaspora and the NGOs.
Sponsor of the bill, Senator Ibrahim Oloriegbe, All Progressives Congress, APC, Kwara Central, noted that the said amendments were meant to intensify the operations of the NGOs in Nigeria.
The stakeholders, who also declined the appointment of interim managers to take over the duties of their board of trustees whenever there was a crisis, emphasized that the organizations did not need third parties to address their issues.
They also stated that the provisions for merger among smaller NGOs would result in a crisis.
The memo submitted to the Senate joint panel by CAN was approved by its President, Rev. Samson Ayokunle; General Secretary, Joseph Daramola and Director of Legal and Public Affairs, Comfort Chigbue.
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CAN opposed Section 839 of the bill and announced that it negated 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 these 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).
The memo read: ” CAN is also calling for amendments of sections 842 of the CAMA 2020 which gives power of direct transfer of credit in dormant accounts to the Corporation Affairs Commission.
“This undermines the provisions of Section 37 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) which guarantees the rights to privacy.
The Amnesty International negated some provisions in Part F of the CAMA 2020, stating that some of the measures contained were ill- conceived, disproportionate, unnecessary, and discriminatory.
Therefore, Amnesty International however, stated that it welcomed the proposed deletion of sections 831, 842, 843 and 844 from the CAMA 2020.
Part of its memo submitted by Osai Ojigho read, “Notwithstanding these proposed amendments, Part F of CAMA 2020 still contains overly broad powers and vague provisions and provides for an excessive degree of state control and interference in the activities of any association.
“Some of these provisions have not been remedied by the proposed CAMA Bill, 2022, and they still impose impermissible restrictions on human rights, including the rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association.
“Amnesty International hereby urges the National Assembly to immediately remove the offending provisions highlighted in this memorandum from the legislation in its proposed amendment.”
