Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and other stakeholders have called for an improved operational environment in Nigeria.
They made the call during the 2025 South South regional conference held in Uyo , the Akwa Ibom State capital organized by Global Rights in partnership with the community of Practice on Civil Space strengthening and funded by the European Union.
The conference which had as its theme “Scaling Policy to Action – Strengthening the Regulatory Environment for Sustainable CSO Operations at the Subnational Level,” brought together civil society leaders, regulators, and development actors to reflect on policy recommendations from the 2024 regional convening and explored how these have been scaled into action.
Experts at the event acknowledged the critical roles played by CSOs in promoting democracy, fostering accountability, and empowering communities across Nigeria especially at the subnational level regretting that many of them face operational and regulatory constraints, including duplicative registration requirements and burdensome financial obligations imposed by multiple state agencies.
Ken Henshaw, co-chair, community of practice and head, ‘We the people, ‘ expressed dismay that the civic space in the country was getting restricted as many government agencies saw CSOs as enemies.
He expressed hope that with CSOs learning to work closely together with the authorities the suspicion would be gradually disappearing.
“That gap that existed between civil society and government officials as represented by the number of government agencies and officials in our midst here today demonstrates that the suspicion is gradually disappearing and we are learning to work more closely together.
Earlier in her remarks, the executive Director of Global Rights, Abiodun Baiyewu recounted the significant progress made by the organisation within one year after the 2024 regional conferences especially in the area of partnership for a sustainable operational environment for CSOs.
Baiyewu also expressed hope that the 2025 conferences would create actionable steps that will allow civil society actors optimize their impact and function freely in their humanitarian services to communities.
”This year’s conferences seek to continue the conversation started last year and consolidate the implementation of a harmonized regulatory framework either via the pathway of a policy or law to eliminate redundant registrations, enhance funding opportunities and foster inclusive policy development.
The 2025 conferences will also introduce the CSO community to tools expected to improve CSO compliance, to extant laws and establish a regional task force for coordination.” Baiyewu noted.
Speaking on the essence of the conference, the European Union Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, said it was aimed at strengthening partnership and regular interactions between CSOs and State government agencies for a favorable regulatory environment to operate.
”These conferences are designed to be meeting points for civil society stakeholders, state and federal government actors to meet, discuss and agree on key issues relating to laws and regulations that affect civil society operations.” She stated.
There was also a presentation of an award to KufreAbasi Edidem, the deputy speaker of the Akwa Ibom state house of assembly for his contributions to the strengthening of the civil space in the state.
Edidem who presented a paper at the conference highlighted the contributions of the civil society in the country which he said included the promotion of the rule of law , social justice and furthering political participation among the citizenry.
