At least 30 civil society organisations in Nigeria have called on the Senate to withdraw the proposed Foreign Aid (Regulation, Transparency and Disclosure) Bill, 2026. The groups, including Yiaga Africa, Accountability Lab Nigeria, and SERAP, expressed concerns that the bill's sanctions against non-governmental organisations are excessive. They made this demand at a press conference in Abuja on Wednesday, stating that the bill's revival and progression through the Senate have raised concerns over the future of civic activities and independent organisations in the country.
The bill, sponsored by Senator Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo, aims to regulate and monitor the operations and funding streams of non-governmental organisations and civil society organisations. It has passed first and second readings and was referred to the Senate Committee on Civil Society and Development Partners for further legislative consideration. The CSOs argue that the bill would impose unnecessary restrictions on organisations providing support to Nigerians, particularly during a time of unprecedented economic hardship and inflation.
The proposed law lacks adequate safeguards against the abuse of regulatory powers, according to Odeh Friday, Country Director of Accountability Lab Nigeria. He stated that there are no safeguards written into the statute to narrow regulatory powers, judicial appeal, or discretionary suspension of legitimate civic organisations. The groups also faulted the proposed sanctions, particularly provisions that could lead to the suspension or revocation of an organisation's operational licence, which could effectively result in the deregistration of an organisation.
The CSOs criticised the selective transparency requirements targeting foreign-funded organisations, arguing that equivalent disclosure requirements should cover domestic political donations, foundations linked to public office holders, and organisations associated with political figures. They questioned whether a N5m grant to a community organisation represented the major corruption and election-finance risk confronting Nigeria. The groups also suggested that existing government mechanisms could be strengthened instead of establishing another regulatory framework.
Abdulrahman Adebayo, Strategic Lead at Gatefield, stated that the proposed National Foreign Aid Register fills no regulatory vacuum, as it duplicates existing mechanisms such as the Dashboard and the Companies and Allied Matters Act. He noted that government agencies already possess enforcement powers under existing laws, citing Section 839 of the Companies and Allied Matters Act and Section 56 of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act.
The proposed penalties are another major concern, according to Mojirayo Ogunlana, Executive Director of DigiCivic Initiative. She stated that individuals could face up to five years in prison and a minimum fine of N5m for failure to register, inaccurate disclosure, or obstruction of the proposed commission. Organisations face a minimum fine of N20m and the suspension or revocation of their operational licence.
The CSOs have called on the Senate to stop further consideration of the bill and withdraw it from the legislative process. They also urged Nigerians, religious leaders, diaspora groups, student unions, and market associations to oppose measures capable of restricting civic participation. The groups believe that the bill's provisions could have a negative impact on the country's civic space and the ability of organisations to provide essential services to Nigerians.
Key points
- The Nigerian Senate is being urged to withdraw the Foreign Aid Bill, 2026, due to concerns over its harsh sanctions and excessive restrictions on NGOs.
- The proposed law lacks adequate safeguards against the abuse of regulatory powers and could have a negative impact on the country's civic space.
- The bill's provisions could restrict civic participation and the ability of organisations to provide essential services to Nigerians.
