By News Maker in Abuja
A road safety focused advocacy group, Accident Prevention and Rescue Initiative (APRI) has urged the National Assembly, Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) Registrar General, Hussaini Ishaq Magaji, SAN, to expunge the contentious Annual Return Fees for Non Profit Organizations (NPOs) in the country.
In a petition signed by its Executive Director , Amb. Fidelis Nnadi, and addressed to CAC Registrar General and Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Investment, obtained by our Correspondent, APRI called for immediate reversal of the policy.
“We in the Accident Prevention and Rescue Initiative, a non profit organization, registered under the CAC, respectfully request CAC to grant full exemption to NPOs/NGOs from payment of Annual Return Fees, on the following grounds.
“Non Profit Distribution.NPOs are non profit making entities. They exist for public good in vital sectors; road safety, health, education, anti-corruption and others. For sustenance of their operations, all funds generated by them are reinvested and not shared.
“Funding challenges. 80 percent of Nigerian NPOs depend on grants, and donations. Further fees, can only divert money meant for beneficiaries.
The group also raised issue of payment duplication, adding that NPOs already report to Special Control Unit Against Money Laundering (SCUML), Nigerian Revenue Service (NRS) and Donors; CAC Annual Return Fees will definitely increase cost without value.
They cited global best practices, where countries such as UK, Ghana, and Kenya have reduced fees and granted waivers for registered charity organizations.
“We are appealing to the CAC Registrar General to amend the policy, exempt all companies Limited by Guarantee, from the Annual Return Fees, to free up resources for NPOs to deliver more impact to Nigerians.
As at the time of filing this report, the group has concluded plans to submit petition to the CAC and Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Investment.
You may wish to recall that the landscape for Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and Non-Profit Organizations (NPOs) in Nigeria has changed fundamentally following sweeping 2025 tax reforms.
