NGO compliance ensures sustainable impact, says BudgIT CEO

Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) must embed compliance into their core operations to safeguard public trust and ensure their work yields lasting impact, according to Oluseun Onigbinde, the Chief Executive Officer of BudgIT.

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Compliance is not the enemy of impact. It is what makes impact durable.

Onigbinde emphasized that compliance should not be viewed as a mere administrative hurdle but as a vital system for protecting organizations against financial misconduct, regulatory breaches, and reputational harm. "Compliance is not the enemy of impact. It is what makes impact durable," he asserted during the West African CivicTech Conference in Lagos. The conference, organized by CivicHive, brought together various stakeholders to discuss the role of youth and technology in strengthening governance and democracy in West Africa.

Addressing the theme, “Setting the Tone: Youth, Technology, and the Future of Governance in West Africa,” Onigbinde spoke at a time when NGOs across Africa face increasing regulatory scrutiny, shrinking civic space, funding challenges, and rapid technological shifts. He urged civil society organizations (CSOs) to proactively build compliance into their project planning, implementation, reporting, and risk assessment frameworks. Key questions for organizations, he noted, include understanding applicable laws, methods of compliance, and assigning responsibility for oversight.

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Sometimes we have passion, and it is passion that we started this initiative. But please, move from passion to business, not the business of buying and selling, but move from passion to ensure that you can meet all regulatory goals.

"Sometimes we have passion, and it is passion that we started this initiative. But please, move from passion to business, not the business of buying and selling, but move from passion to ensure that you can meet all regulatory goals," Onigbinde advised. He stressed the need for organizations to develop clear contracts and policies, properly train staff, define roles, and establish procedures for reporting misconduct. Maintaining and securely storing financial and operational records is also crucial, as regulators may request documents spanning several years during audits. Onigbinde recommended checking legal retention periods and utilizing secure digital backups alongside paper records.

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What does the law say? How do we comply? What does compliance mean? Who would lead compliance? Those are important questions to ask.