FG Urged to Counter Narratives against Nigeria’s Political Interest by NGOs

Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja

A former Chairman of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Prof. Sam Amadi, has urged the federal government to counter the narratives being pushed by non-governmental organisations (NGOs), which are against Nigeria’s political interest.

Amadi, who is also the director, Abuja School of Social and Political Thought Centre for Public Policy and Research, disclosed this yesterday in Abuja at a stakeholders’ dialogue on foreign influences and their impact on democratic values, organised by Dataphyte Foundation.

He was of the opinion that while some foreign influence undermines political interests, the solution was not to outlaw foreign funding, but to create capacity at home to also fund what they don’t fund.

Amadi noted that the NGOs come with a certain ideological conception of democracy and they decide which aspect of the electoral system to fund.

According to him, “So this is not about whether they are bad or good people, it is that they come with an idea of democracy and they push that idea.

“So conceptually, every funding for democracy is a projection of ideas for those who are funding it and it’s an influence.

“The question is, is it legitimate or illegitimate? In many cases, it is legitimate interest influenced by changes in line with their constitution or in line with the so-called international human rights provisions.

“In some cases, it is actually negative. It undermines political interests, but the solution is not to outlaw foreign funding, but to create capacity at home to also fund what they (donor) don’t fund. There is a critical development and also be able to counter some of the things  that they may fund that may not be good to development.”

On his part, the Director of Programmes, Dataphyte Foundation, Femi Amele, said they have worked extensively in documenting and doing the research around influences with their partners.

He stressed that there was nothing bad in those collaborations, but there are questions around transparency around those collaborations.