What is the are the processes required to register an NGO in Nigeria with a foreign director/trustees? In conjunction with a Nigerian trustee? What are the necessary documents required from both? What are the cost breakdown? What is the duration of time a

IS YOUR CHURCH/NGO REGISTERED WITH THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION???

(c) Eagle Law House

Although a church/NGO is not a commercial entity, the Corporate Affairs Commission views it as an entity which needs to be registered nonetheless.

There is therefore a laid down process for the registration of churches/NGO in Nigeria. This article will give a step by step breakdown of the process.

 This article will explain the process to register your church under Part C.

STEP 1

As with all registration of entities in Nigeria, the first step is to conduct a search on the name to find out if it is available and to reserve the name if available. It is always advisable to have at least 2 names, one alternate in case the primary name is unavailable. The new rule states that the name will be applied seeking the consent of the Registrar General of the Corporate Affairs Commission to register such proposed NGO names.

The consent is filed along with the names of Trustees, addresses and National Identification Number and the proposed Church/NGO address.

STEP 2

Churches/NGOs are supposed to be governed and managed by what is known as a Board of Trustees. These are the equivalent of what a shareholder/director would be in an incorporated company. The Trustees of a church/NGO are responsible for the management and direction of the organization.

STEP 3

Once you have your name approved vide a consent application to the Registrar General and your board of trustees in place, the next step for the registration of a church in Nigeria is that the Trustees must publish a notification of their intention to register a church or NGO. This notice must be published in 2 newspapers for 28days, one of the newspapers being one that is widely circulated in the area where the organisation will be based.

STEP 4

The next step is to complete and submit the application form. The application form is self-explanatory and asks for information like the approved name of the church, the registered address of the church, a brief description of the aims and objectives of the church. The form also requires the personal details of the Trustees, this includes their names, sex, nationality, permanent residential addresses, occupation, NIN etc.

The completed application form must be submitted alongside other documentation which includes an application letter, the original newspaper publications, two copies of the church constitution, the minutes of the meeting where the trustees were appointed, 2 passport photographs of each Trustee etc.

STEP 5

All the documentation is then reviewed by the CAC, and if there are no queries, the church Or NGO is registered with the CAC and can then commence operation.