If you are planning to register an NGO in Nigeria, then this article will provide the needed guidance. It contains the legal requirements and step by step guide for people who want to register incorporated trustees in Nigeria. Kindly contact us through our communication channels if you would like us to register your NGO, Company or Partnership in Nigeria.
What is an NGO?
You can either register an NGO (Non-Governmental Organization) in Nigeria as a Company Limited by Guarantee or as an Incorporated Trustees. Most people prefer to go with the Incorporated Trustees option because it is easier, faster and cheaper to register and that’s what we would be focusing on in this article.
In this article, NGO refers to Incorporated Trustee and we would describe the process, procedure and the requirements on how to register an NGO in Nigeria.
In defining what an NGO is, we can simply say it is a community-based association. It is usually a non-profit organization whose activities are regulated by the organization’s constitution.
Ngo’s are formed by people of like minds to promote religious, educational, literary, scientific, social/cultural development, sporting and charitable causes.
What this means is that an NGO can be registered as a Church, a Mosque, a School, an Institute of learning, a club, an alumni association, a foundation, a charitable organisation, a support group.
How Can I Register An NGO In Nigeria?
Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) office in Nigeria takes charge of registration of NGOs. You can register by submitting the Trustees applications to the CAC who would review and approve or query the registration. However, certain steps must be taken before the application is submitted. Once the registration is approved by the CAC, the CAC would issue a certificate as proof of registration.
What Are The Steps To Register An NGO?
There quite a number of steps to be taken to register an NGO.
The first step is that the community or association would have a meeting where the trustees and other members of the governing body are elected.
During the course of this meeting, the minutes of the meeting are to be kept. The minutes would also be signed by the appointed chairman and secretary.
The second step is to conduct a name search and availability in order to ascertain which name the NGO would bear.
After the name and availability are conducted and a name has been approved and reserved (usually for sixty days), the trustees would then publicize their intention to register the NGO in two newspapers. One of the newspapers must be a newspaper that circulates nationwide while the other could be a local newspaper.
The reason for the newspaper publication is for public awareness of the intention to register the trustee and also for anyone who has an objection to notifying the CAC of such objections.
The newspaper publication would usually last for 28days.
After the expiration of 28 days and if there are no objections, the elected secretary of the organisation (usually with the help of a solicitor) would draft an application for registration of the NGO.
At this stage, the registration of the NGO would commence online using the approved name. After the application is done online, all forms and documents would be downloaded, printed and the chairman, secretary and other trustees would sign next to their names.
The common seal of the NGO would also be affixed on the documents.
The next stage would be to notarize the trustees’ declaration forms. This is to be done by a notary public or attested to by the commissioner for oaths either of whom will witness the signatures of the trustees.
After all the documents are signed, stamped and sealed, they would be scanned and uploaded on the CAC online portal.
This is the final step if you want to register an NGO.
What are the documents and information I would have to provide?
There are lots of documents and information that the solicitor registering the NGO would ask you to provide.
Meanwhile, the solicitor would draft most of the documents including the minutes of meetings and the application for registration.
The solicitor would also obtain the common seal of the NGO, draft the constitution and fill in the application forms.
So basically, the solicitor would request for the following:
- Two name options for the NGO
- The name, physical address, email address, phone number and valid means of identification and passport photographs of each of the trustees
- The address of the NGO
- The aims and objectives of the NGO
As said earlier, the solicitor would provide the rest of the documents and procure the common seal of the NGO while presenting the application.
How long does it take to complete the registration?
There are three major steps that appear on the timeline of registration of an NGO.
The first step is the name search which takes approximately 24 hours or less.
The second step is the newspaper publication. After the newspaper publication, trustees must wait for 28 days before taking any further steps.
At the expiration of the 28 days the solicitor files all documents and the application if not queried would be approved within a week or two.
This leads us to conclude that the total period to register an NGO in Nigeria is approximately two months.
Who can be appointed as a Trustee?
Anyone can be appointed a trustee in so far as the person is not an infant or a person of unsound mind.
Also, an undischarged bankrupt can neither be a trustee nor can a person who has been convicted of fraud or dishonesty within the last five years before his proposed appointment.
Anyone who is appointed a trustee must give his consent otherwise his appointment would be invalid.
How will the chairman and secretary be appointed?
The criteria for appointment of chairman and secretary of the NGO is usually contained in the constitution of the NGO. The constitution also states the tenure of the Chairman and secretary and other members of the governing body.
However, the first chairman and secretary are usually appointed at the first meeting of the NGO.
I want to register an NGO, what should I do?
If you want to register an NGO please contact us through our communication channels provided in the blue box below.
