A Non-Governmental Organisation ("NGO") is a trunk or association of persons registered equally "Incorporated Trustees" under Section 590 of the Companies and Allied Matters Human activity, Cap C20 Laws of the Federation 2010 for the advancement of whatsoever religious, educational, literary, scientific, social/cultural development, sporting and charitable causes. An NGO is deemed a not-for-profit organisation in Nigeria. The post-obit is a guide to registering an NGO in Nigeria.

  1. Devise a plan. Write virtually your system's beliefs, mission, and purpose. As y'all define your mission and draft you lot purpose statement, you should describe the overall purpose of the NGO; the activities your NGO will engage in or undertake; the core beliefs of the NGO; etc.
  2. Select your NGO proper noun. For example, "Youths for Republic and Positive Change", "Brilliant Minds Educational Foundation", "Network of Nigerian Women in Politics", "Mega Champions Football Club", "Jesus Christ Apostolic Ministries", "Coin-Givers Trust Foundation", "Amalgamated Wedlock of Market place Leaders and Traders", "Business CEOs Roundtable", "All United Sport Guild", "Foundation Against Trafficking in Persons and Slavery", "Scientific Scholars and Inventors Forum", "Climate-Change Advancement Roundtable", "International Motor-Bikers Club", "The Mental Wellness Foundation", Good Governance Advocacy Foundation", "The Emerging Tigers Forum", "Dearest and Care International Foundation", "Association of Miners, Industrialists and Acme Manufacturers", "Environmental Sustainability Foundation", etc. (plus an alternate name in example the first name is unavailable for reservation).
  3. Appoint the Trustee(s). A person qualified to exist appointed a Trustee must not exist less than xviii years of age; or of unsound mind; or undischarged broke; or convicted of an offence involving fraud or dishonesty within 5 years of his proposed appointment.
  4. Consult an Accredited Solicitor. A Solicitor who has been duly accredited past the Corporate Diplomacy Committee (CAC) to conduct pre and post incorporation matters with the Commission can help you execute the following:
  5. Proper noun Availability Search and Reservation. Your Solicitor will conduct a search at the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) registry to check if the NGO name you have chosen is available for reservation. Simply a name that is not identical to an existing registered arrangement in Nigeria can exist reserved for you. Where your name is available, same volition exist approved for registration. Name availability bank check and reservation can be effected within 48 hours by a CAC accredited Solicitor.
  6. Publication of Notices. Your Solicitor, in compliance with the police, will publish in three (3) national dailies, i being a local newspaper widely circulated in the surface area where your NGO is based a notification of intention to register the NGO, setting out the name of the NGO; the names of trustees, aims and objectives; and a telephone call for objections within 28 days to the registration of the NGO (if any).
  7. Drafting of the NGO Constitution. The NGO'south constitution drafted by the Solicitor will set out rules that would govern the internal diplomacy of the NGO, the aims and objectives of the NGO, the governance construction, names of members of the Board of Trustees, the statement of purpose, etc.
  8. Drafting of the Minutes of the Meeting. Your solicitor volition draft the infinitesimal of meeting that will provide details whereat members of the Board of Trustees were appointed, list of members present and absent, the voting blueprint, and the authorisation to use for registration, signed past Chairman and Secretary of the Board.
  9. Drafting of the Minutes of the Coming together. Your solicitor will draft the minutes of meeting whereat the special clause was adopted into the constitution of the arrangement; signed past Chairman and Secretary of the Board.
  10. Documentation of all incorporation documents. Your solicitor volition put together all incorporation documents including duly completed application form in triplicate, alphabetic character of application, the original of paper publications, copies of the NGO constitution so drafted, the above minutes of the meetings, passport-sized photographs of the Trustees, the impression of the mutual seal of the NGO, etc.
  11. Submission and Filing. Your solicitor will file all the relevant documents with the Corporate Affairs Committee for the incorporation of the NGO.
  12. Collection of the NGO Certificate of Incorporation. The Document of Incorporation of the NGO will be issued by the Corporate Affairs Commission to y'all through your CAC Accredited Solicitor after due documentations and filings.
  13. Open a Banking concern Account in the NGO Name. This is very important because opening a bank account in the NGO'southward proper name shows that your NGO is official and yous are ready to begin to obtain financial support from the public and receive donations. To open a NGO bank business relationship, you will need the NGO's Certificate of Incorporation issued by Corporate Affairs Commission.

THE INCIDENCE AND BENEFITS OF REGISTERING AN NGO

The following are the benefits and incidence of NGO registration.

  1. The NGO becomes a Corporate Trunk. As a corporate trunk, the NGO dealings and engagement with the members of the public and the society volition improve. The NGO tin sue or exist sued through its incorporated trustees to enforce its legal rights.
  2. The NGO becomes entitled to purchase state, own fixed avails and incur liabilities under its common seal. Information technology is illegal for an unregistered organization including an unregistered NGO to buy, hold or sell state anywhere in Nigeria.
  3. Structured Financial Plan. Having an NGO can afford yous a taxation-free mechanism for the businesses yous are transacting nether the NGO. NGOs are accounted non-for-turn a profit and therefore their activities are taxation deductible. You tin develop a structured fiscal programme using your NGO for "revenue enhancement avoidance". Taxation avoidance is legitimate, but Not "tax evasion" which is criminal!
  4. Protection from Personal Liability. You lot can buy, larn and annals your financial stakes and assets in the proper name of your NGO. This is a very smart way to protecting yourself from unlimited liability for defalcation, foreclosure, judgement debt recovery, or divorce proceedings in future. Your assets and property registered in the proper name of your NGO tin can never be targeted or attached for the satisfaction of any debts you have incurred or be used for the settlement of your estranged wife or husband subsequently a bitter divorce proceeding. You are better off outsmarting an ugly occurrence in future than be lamentable!
  5. Perpetual Succession. This means your NGO has an unlimited life span and will continue to be even if the founder or trustees die or leave the NGO. An NGO's beingness volition only cease if it is formally wound up by the Club of Courtroom. Amongst other benefits, this allows your system to outlast you and even generations to come.
  6. Having an Enhanced Corporate Paradigm. The public volition perceive your NGO every bit being stable than an unregistered NGO. Political parties, government, donor agencies, financial institutions, charity organizations and other NGOs will only want to partner with your NGO to further mutual objectives if your NGO is registered.
  7. Responsible Leadership. The registration of your NGO can suggest that your NGO has an effective and responsible leadership in place.
  8. Registering your NGO can beget you access to credit from official lenders and fiscal institutions. You can use a loan facility to finance a mortgage, purchase land or fixed assets, promote the activities of your NGO, or fund the NGO operations. Banks will want to encounter proof that your NGO is registered with the CAC as condition precedent to giving loan.
  9. Once your NGO is registered, the name is protected. Nobody can utilize the same proper noun or even a name that is similar to that of your NGO throughout Nigeria. This has the do good of legally protecting your image and NGO proper noun from unauthorized use.
  10. Ability to open up and operate a bank account in the NGO name. Operating an NGO bank account is an important asset to your NGO because information technology is ane of the clearest signs that you lot are transparent. Some private persons, government, donor agencies and other NGOs will not be comfortable writing you lot a cheque for your NGO in your ain personal proper noun. Just the NGO bank account shows everyone that your NGO is official and y'all are ready to begin to obtain fiscal support and receive monetary donations. Y'all demand to provide proof that your NGO is registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission to open up a corporate bank business relationship.

WHAT TO DO NEXT?

If you want to annals your NGO, yous are taking the correct stride in the right direction. Registering your NGO would effectively confer numerous benefits for growth and sustainability. It is strongly recommended that you obtain help from an accredited solicitor of CAC to aid you with the pre and postal service incorporation matters of your NGO, and to pivot downwardly primal issues related to the governance structure and internal affairs of your NGO.

The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist communication should exist sought near your specific circumstances.