On Wednesday, September 25th, 2024, We the People hosted a high-level meeting with the Head of Operations of the European Union (EU) Delegation in Nigeria, Massimo De Luca. The meeting, part of the ongoing ‘Community of Practice’ to improve the Civil Society regulatory environment in Nigeria chaired by We the People and executed by Global Rights with support from the European Union, brought together representatives of civil society organizations in Cross River state.
The Community of Practice is a self-help platform for civil society actors to strengthen organizational resilience and protect Nigeria’s fast shrinking civic space. It emphasizes the value of collaboration and capacity to navigate Nigeria’s often restrictive regulatory environment. Through the initiative many organizations have become more compliant with legal frameworks
Massimo De Luca expressed his enthusiasm for the strength and diversity of the Community of Practice, underscoring the EU’s ongoing interest in understanding how NGOs, including environmental and human rights organizations, operate in Cross River State. He noted that the EU aims to assess the impact of past conferences and trainings, and explore how the regulatory environment affects the operations of civil society in the region.
During the interactive session, several key issues were raised. Ben Usang Leader of the Cross River State Civil Society Coalition and the Executive Director of African Dignity Organization highlighted the challenge of multiple taxation and the burden of registering with various Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) in each state based on thematic areas of focus. He called for the Cross River state government to make the Department of NGOs fully functional, lamenting that, currently, only the Ministry of Donor Cooperation is operational.
Emmanuel Akpan of Girls Power Initiative acknowledged the positive impact of the capacity development activities on regulatory frameworks, stating that it has helped organizations improve their internal processes. He also stressed the need for continued capacity-building support for CSOs to enhance organizational development and access to opportunities.
Dr. Martins Egot, an environmental advocate highlighted the critical role of CSOs in protecting the environment, noting that recent budget of Cross River State indicated increased revenue from the Forestry Commission—an outcome he deemed a threat to the forest ecosystem. Nsikak Peter of We the People informed the gathering that illegal mining in Cross River’s National Park and surrounding areas had become a major concern, leading We the People to carry out advocacy interventions that resulted in the revocation of mining licenses in affected communities.
In response, Massimo De Luca noted that the European Union is already partnering with organizations in Cross River state, but acknowledged that the Commission compliance mechanisms can be more rigorous than those of the Nigerian government.
The meeting concluded with a reaffirmation of the EU’s commitment to supporting civil society in Nigeria, particularly in promoting transparency, accountability, and inclusion. De Luca reiterated that these are core values of the EU, which align with the goals of the ongoing project to strengthen the regulatory environment for CSOs.
