The league of civil society organizations in Kano state has rejected the constitution of committee responsible for the profiling nongovernmental organizations in the state describing it as a thinly veiled attempt to stifle the independent voices and control the civic space.
GLOBAL TRACKER recalled that the Kano state ministry of information and internal affairs announced that the secretary to the state government has constituted a high-powered committee on profiling of nongovernmental organizations and donor organizations.
However, in a press conference led by Bala Gaduwama, the former president of the Kano civil society forum said the organizations rejected the development saying “we believe this initiative is ill-advised, potentially unconstitutional, and ultimately detrimental to the vibrant and essential work of civil society in Kano State.”
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“This initiative is disturbingly reminiscent of similar attempts at the federal level in 2017, which were ultimately abandoned due to widespread opposition. Like its predecessor, this committee poses a substantial threat to the freedom of association guaranteed by our constitution. Profiling NGOs and probing their funding sources infringes on their autonomy and independence, potentially silencing critical voices and discouraging vital advocacy work,”said Bala.
He said the appointment of Ibrahim Abdullahi Waiya who is the state commissioner for information and internal affairs raises serious concerns regarding the committee’s objectives and the Kano state government commitment to transparency and accountability.
“Waiya’s past involvement with the Kano Civil Society Forum (KCSF) presents a significant conflict of interest. His seven-year tenure as Interim Management Committee President without conducting elections, coupled with documented accusations of financial impropriety demonstrates a disregard for established governance principles,” he further stressed.
“Placing an individual with this background at the helm of a committee tasked with overseeing the financial integrity and operational transparency of NGOs creates a fundamental conflict of interest. It directly undermines the government’s stated objective of ensuring accountability within the NGO sector. This appointment sends a contradictory message, suggesting either a lack of due diligence in vetting candidates for such a sensitive role or, more troubling, a tacit endorsement of the very practices this committee is ostensibly meant to address. The implications are far-reaching. This decision erodes public trust in the government’s commitment to good governance. It casts doubt on the legitimacy of the committee’s work, raising suspicions that the initiative may be driven by motives other than genuine oversight. Moreover, it creates an environment of cynicism and apprehension within the civil society sector, potentially chilling legitimate advocacy and hindering the vital services NGOs provide to the community. For a government ostensibly anchored on principles of transparency and accountability, this appointment represents a significant inconsistency and a serious misstep that risks damaging its credibility and undermining its stated goals,” he added.
The group demand an immediate dissolution of the said committee, respect for NGO independence, Genuine partnership and dialogue, transparency and accountability for all as well as an end to duplication and waste.
He added that the civil society organizations is committed to mobilizing public awareness, engaging in advocacy with all stakeholders including Kano state government officials, legislators, and international organizations to advocate for the protection of civil society space in Kano state.
The former president added the forum will decide any line of actions in case of no response from the state government.