NEWS:Reps, civil society groups disagree over bill on NGOs, others

BY ABU IDRISU:

THE House of Representatives yesterday intensified move to regulate the activities of civil society organisations (CSOs), non-governmental organisations (NG0s) and faith-based organisations in the polity.
  At the start of the public hearing on the bill to achieve the goal, the brain behind the proposed legislation, Mr. Edie Mbadiwe, explained that the initiative was aimed at promoting the activities of CSOs, NGOs and faith-based organisations in the polity.
  The lawmaker, who represents Ideato North/South Federal Constituency of Imo State, noted that the proposed legislation would curb the spate of abuses often associated with the NGOs, CSOs and faith-based organisations that hardly dispense monies sourced from donors abroad for the purposes they were meant for.
  Mbadiwe claimed that from his experience as the head of Rotary Club District 9140, he was privy to the fact that there were some individuals in faith-based organisations that sourced monies abroad to build churches only to end up diverting such funds to buy choice buildings for themselves.
  He further stated that there were cases of some persons using the cover of CSO and faith-based organisation to utilise monies meant for charity work to sponsor terrorism in the country.