An international non-governmental organisation, Global Rights, has trained Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and non-profits in Calabar on the importance of regulatory compliance, urging them to align with extant laws to avoid disruptions to their humanitarian efforts.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The call was made on Tuesday during a training session themed “Strengthening a Community of Practice to Improve CSO Regulatory Environment in Nigeria”, supported by the European Union. The event aimed to build the capacity of civil actors to operate within Nigeria’s evolving legal and regulatory landscape.

Speaking at the event, Edosa Oviawe, Programme Manager at Global Rights, lamented that many CSOs in Nigeria were losing public trust—not due to lack of impact—but because of poor adherence to regulatory obligations. He noted that many organisations mistakenly believe that registration with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) marks the end of formal requirements.

“We have realised that a number of CSOs are losing credibility not because of poor performance, but due to low levels of regulatory compliance,” Oviawe said. “Some of them think that once they register with the CAC, their obligations end. This training is designed to help them understand what is required to stay compliant and avoid sanctions.”

Delivering a presentation on Corporate and Allied Matters, renowned legal expert Professor Adekunle Adedeji (SAN) advised CSOs to familiarise themselves with key regulatory frameworks including tax laws, anti-money laundering regulations, pension laws, and corporate governance rules.

“Ignorance is not an excuse under the law. Once incorporated, CSOs are required to file annual returns—even if they are yet to begin active projects,” he stressed. “Every organisation should appoint a compliance officer to keep track of filing deadlines and regulatory requirements.”

Professor Adedeji also called on the government to provide incentives for CSOs, similar to those offered to Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), recognising the critical development roles they play.

While acknowledging concerns about overregulation, Adedeji noted that some of the challenges faced by CSOs were self-inflicted due to negligence.

“Some organisations go four years without filing a single return. That’s not a fault of the law—it’s a failure of internal compliance structures,” he noted.

Salisu Abubakar, Assistant Director at the CAC headquarters in Abuja, warned that operating without proper registration is a serious offence. He urged all active organisations to complete their incorporation processes and stay current with annual filings.

Alfred Lortyaver, a compliance consultant, walked participants through practical steps to regain regulatory standing:

“The first step is obtaining a Tax Identification Number (TIN). Next, register on the TaxPro Max platform to begin filing your returns. Payments can even be made in instalments if necessary,” he explained.

Also speaking, Essien Ansa of the Cross River State Internal Revenue Service (CRIRS), advised CSOs to maintain a verifiable physical address and designate a compliance officer.

“It’s always cheaper to comply than to default. Non-compliance leads to heavy fines that can be avoided with simple organisation,” he said.

One of the participants, Glory Ekpeazu, raised concerns about the high cost of registering and incorporating CSOs, urging the government to ease the financial burden on grassroots organisations.

In his remarks, Jeff Mangwei Chima commended the organisers and urged participants to put the lessons into practice, stressing that improved compliance would enhance the legitimacy and sustainability of their organisations.