CAC, COP to Partner on Civic Space Strengthening
By Ekemini Simon
The Corporate Affairs Commission has agreed to partner with Community of Practice (COP) on Civic Space Strengthening in Akwa Ibom State to strengthen the regulatory environment for sustainable Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) operations at both the national and sub-national level.
The agreement was struck on Thursday when the Community of Practice on Civic Space Strengthening in Akwa Ibom State paid a courtesy call on the Head of Corporate Affairs Commission and his team in Akwa Ibom State.
In his remarks, the Team Lead of COP, Tijah Bolton-Akpan noted that when the Companies and Allied Matters Act (2020) came into force, it strengthened the work done by CSOs. He however said that despite the significant merit brought by the law, a few provisions tend to limit some of their work thus give rise to the need to be improved upon.
” While the CAMA 2020 has improved our work, we have observed that there is a multiplicity of some of these laws and it constrains our work through several filings here and there”, he said.
Bolton-Akpan said the COP will offer line by line recommendations on some of the sections of CAMA that will require improvement in preparation for amendment.
The Team Lead informed CAC that already to comply with relevant regulations, the Community of Practice have gone ahead to design a system that will encourage self-regulation among CSOs.
He used the opportunity to invite CAC to the South South Regional Conference that will be held in Uyo on June 19.
Responding, the Head of Corporate Affairs Commission in Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Udoh Moses applauded the Community of Practice for charting a collaborative course with the CAC.
He noted that over the years, CAC has evolved with credible initiatives aimed at satisfying and protecting the public.
Moses said while there may be some gaps, the CAC will be ready to collaborate with the Community of Practice to address them thus strengthening the civic space.