A coalition of civil society organisations has urged the National Assembly to withdraw the Foreign Aid Bill, 2026, warning that the proposed legislation threatens civic space, freedom of association, and independent humanitarian work across Nigeria through sweeping state controls.
The controversial legislation, formally titled the Foreign Aid (Regulation, Transparency and Disclosure) Bill, 2026, has quickly drawn fierce resistance from across the country’s civil society and religious leadership. Sponsored by Senator Ibrahim Dankwambo representing Gombe North, the bill passed its second reading in the Senate in July before being referred to committees for further legislative review.
While proponents argue that tighter oversight is needed to monitor billions of naira in foreign aid, critics warn that the framework amounts to an encroachment on independent charity and public advocacy.
Civil Society and Catholic Bishops Warn Against Repressive Controls
During a press conference in Abuja, a coalition of civil society organisations joined by Accountability Lab Nigeria Country Director Odeh Friday condemned the legislation as an unconstitutional attempt to stifle public dissent. The coalition argued that the bill targets the fundamental right of citizens to support one another without government interference.
This bill is repressive and unconstitutional. It is an insidious state-sponsored attempt to police empathy, weaponise bureaucracy, and place undue restrictions on the fundamental right of citizens to support and care for one another.
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Concerns over the measure extend far beyond elite policy think tanks based in the capital. Leaders from the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria, following their Second Plenary Meeting at Our Lady and St. Kizito Pastoral Centre in Osun State, issued a strong warning that the rules could cripple local welfare networks.
Under the sweeping and broad definitions contained in the bill, an NGO is not simply an elite advocacy group based in Abuja. The legislation could also cover local church welfare committees, Friday mosque Zakat distribution networks, hometown development unions, university alumni associations and informal credit groups.
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Signed by CBCN President Archbishop Matthew Man-Oso Ndagoso of Kaduna and Conference Secretary Bishop Peter Olukayode Odetoyinbo of Abeokuta Diocese, the bishops’ communiqué highlighted provisions that would allow authorities to deny or refuse registration renewals if an organization’s work is deemed not in the national interest
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Regulatory Duplication and Severe Penalties Spark Alarm
Opponents of the measure point out that Nigerian non-profits and incorporated trustees are already subject to extensive institutional oversight. Existing financial and administrative monitoring flows through the Corporate Affairs Commission under the Companies and Allied Matters Act, alongside the Special Control Unit Against Money Laundering, the Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit, and disclosure standards enforced by the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria.
Rather than closing a regulatory gap, the proposed commission would duplicate existing frameworks while imposing harsh punitive measures. Under the bill’s enforcement clauses, individuals face up to five years in prison and a minimum fine of ₦5 million for obstruction, inaccurate disclosures, or failure to register. Meanwhile, organisations could face minimum fines of ₦20 million alongside the suspension or revocation of their operational licences.
The Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning already launched the Nigeria Development Cooperation Dashboard in 2024 to publish actual and planned development disbursements across sectors and states. Civil society groups maintain that upgrading this existing platform offers a transparent alternative without granting sweeping enforcement powers to a new bureaucracy.
Senate Sponsors Cite Security While Critics Defend Independent Oversight
Defending the legislation during earlier parliamentary debates, Senator Dankwambo maintained that substantial foreign assistance flows through non-governmental channels without adequate oversight regarding the origin or utilization of funds, creating accountability and national security concerns.
Yet, critics argue that forcing donor-funded projects to align strictly with government-defined priorities threatens the core mission of independent watchdogs. Civil groups noted that holding authorities accountable requires operational independence.
Civil society exists partly to challenge official priorities, document abuses, advocate for marginalised groups and serve communities the state does not adequately reach.
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As the legislation remains under review by the Senate Committee on Civil Society and Development Partners, opponents continue urging religious networks, student unions, and market associations to demand its complete withdrawal before it advances further.