Civil society coalition urges Senate to withdraw Foreign Aid Bill

A coalition of Nigerian civil society organisations has called for the withdrawal of a bill regulating foreign aid, warning that it could restrict civic space and give the government excessive powers over independent organisations. At a press conference on Wednesday, the coalition described the Foreign Aid (Regulation, Transparency and Disclosure) Bill, 2026, as repressive and unconstitutional. Sponsored by Senator Ibrahim Dankwambo of Gombe North, the bill passed its second reading in the Senate in July and was referred to committees.

The proposed framework would require registration and monitoring of foreign aid and donor-funded projects, including disclosure of funding sources and project details. The coalition said the broad definition of an NGO could cover community organisations, religious welfare groups, hometown unions, alumni associations and informal savings groups. It argued that Nigeria already has oversight mechanisms through the Corporate Affairs Commission, the EFCC’s Special Control Unit Against Money Laundering, the Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit, the Financial Reporting Council and the Companies and Allied Matters Act.

The coalition said the bill’s penalties were disproportionate. It cited possible imprisonment of up to five years and a minimum fine of ₦5 million for individuals, while organisations could face a minimum fine of ₦20 million, suspension or loss of an operating licence for certain violations. It also opposed a requirement that foreign-funded projects align with government-defined development priorities, saying this could affect organisations investigating agencies, documenting alleged abuses or advocating for communities.

Supporters of the bill, including Dankwambo, argue that billions of naira in foreign aid pass through NGOs without adequate scrutiny. The bill would create a database, require disclosure of project information and integrate donor-funded interventions into government budgets. The coalition said transparency should instead be improved through existing systems, including the government’s Nigeria Development Cooperation Dashboard.

It urged the National Assembly to reject the bill and called on community and religious organisations, student unions and other groups to oppose it.