The Coordinator, Centre for Peace and Environmental(CEPEJ) Comrade Sheriff Mulade has said the move by National Assembly to enact NGO Regulation Bill that seeks to register and regulate Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) is unfortunate.
Comrade Mulade who spoke at a one-day seminar on “The Role of CSOs and the Media in the Promotion of sustainable environment in the Niger Delta said, “The question is why is the bill generating controversy and why do critical stakeholders in CSOs want it dead? Are there any merits in the bill? Is the National Assembly accusing Nigeria’s voluntary sector of being a den of crooks in need of proper policing”
According to him, civil society and the media are playing key oversight role in the defense and sustenance of our fledgling democracy. This is why it is most appropriate to promote an enabling environment for civil society and media initiatives such as dialogues at various levels designed to faster cooperation and trust between the non- government civil societies and the media should be encouraged
He said as the fourth pillar of democracy along with judiciary, executive and legislature, media of today has all embracing role to act against oppression and misdeeds the society. “Media helps in fighting against corruption, nepotism and favoritism of institutional machinery”
The Guest Speaker, Professor Daniel Ikudayesi Olorunfemi stressed the need for the media to effectively partner with CSOs to exposed the degradation of the environment in Nigeria