Kathmandu, February 6:

The Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority today urged the government to promulgate an Act so as to authorise the anti-graft body to take action against non-governmental organisations on corruption charges.

Stating that the reports of Social Welfare Council and other concerned bodies showed that many NGOs were involved in cases of corruption and irregularities, the constitutional anti-graft body called the government to give it teeth to take action against the defaulting NGOs.

“The reports show that NGOs have been involved in corruption and irregularities,” Acting Chief Commissioner Lalit Bahadur Limbu said, adding, “We have asked the government to promulgate a suitable Act in order to enable us to take action against the organisations involved in wrongdoings.”

Currently, the law has authorised the CIAA to seek details from the NGOs and investigate and monitor their activities, in case any NGO is suspected to have been involved in corrupt activities.

The corruption watchdog has deemed the provision inadequate to take action against the wrongdoing NGOs. NGOs are often accused of not maintaining transparency in their activities.

Citing Section 28 of the CIAA Act, 1992, the CIAA asked the government to help make the state body’s anti-corruption fight more effective.