By Mike Mike
The move by the government to regulate the financial inflow of non-profit organisations(NPO) has been described as a right step in the right direction.
This was the concession reached on Friday as Spaces For Change, a non-profit organization held its consultative meeting with civil society organisations in Abuja.
According to them, the move will help checkmate the inflow of funds for illegal use by some of the organisations which may be aiding money laundering and terrorism.
Speaking on the need to improve their services and help the government in that direction, Victoria Ibezim-Ohaeri, said the Financial Action Task Force, (FATF) which is responsible for the assessment of national risk understands the need.
Ibezim-Ohaeri said it must be noted that money laundering and terrorism funding if properly monitored will help countries take appropriate measures to counter any threats so identified.
She said that this year’s meeting centred on the review of the Space for Change’s 2017 review which examined the link between the FATF recommendation 8 and restrictions on civic freedom in Nigeria.
“That study detailed how domestic efforts to comply with this international provision has not only opened the door for states to introduce the restrictive legislation but also given them further ground to crush dissent, violate civil liberties and impose restriction on civil society,” she state.
Space for Change was established in 2011 with the intent to increase the participation of women, youth and communities in the development of social economic policy and also helped public authorities and corporate entities put humanity right at the heart of their decision makings.
On their part, the CSO numbering over 20, said while it welcomes the evaluation of FAFT, they believed that there are critical areas of concern which should be put in place to curb corruption or combat money laundering and financing of terrorism.
