SERAP, NGE Demand Withdrawal of Foreign Aid Bill, Threaten Legal Action

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) and the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) have urged both chambers of the National Assembly to withdraw the proposed Foreign Aid (Regulation, Transparency and Disclosure) Bill, 2026, warning that it could weaken civic space, media freedom, and democratic participation in Nigeria.

In a joint open letter released on August 29, 2026, SERAP Deputy Director Kolawole Oluwadare and NGE General Secretary Onuoha Ukeh urged Senate President Godswill Akpabio and House Speaker Tajudeen Abbas to reject the bill sponsored by Senator Ibrahim Dankwambo (PDP, Gombe North).

The Nigerian Senate has passed the Foreign Aid (Regulation, Transparency and Disclosure) Bill, 2026 (SB 1034), for second reading. The bill seeks to require organisations and private entities receiving foreign assistance to register and disclose such support. It proposes sanctions including a minimum fine of N20 million and possible suspension or revocation of operating licences.

SERAP and NGE opposed the bill, arguing that although it is framed as a transparency and accountability measure for foreign aid, it would create a broad system of government control over civil society organisations, independent media, religious bodies and other recipients of foreign funding.

In their positions, the organisations maintained that the proposed law would establish a Foreign Aid Regulatory Commission with powers to register affected organisations, compel disclosure of information, inspect records, investigate activities, monitor the use of foreign assistance, issue directives and impose administrative sanctions.

They argued that these powers could expose legitimate organisations to excessive government supervision and interfere with their operational independence, raising doubts about the need for another regulatory body, since Nigeria already has institutions responsible for corporate registration, financial reporting, taxation, anti-money laundering and anti-corruption enforcement.

SERAP and NGE said that agencies such as the Corporate Affairs Commission, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Special Control Unit against Money Laundering, Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit and Federal Inland Revenue Service already regulate and enforce compliance with relevant laws.

“Nothing in the Bill demonstrates that these institutions are unable to perform their statutory responsibilities or that any regulatory gap justifies creating another regulator with overlapping and potentially intrusive powers,” the organisations said.

Addressing the proposed law’s implications for civic space, the organisations also raised concerns about its potential impact on independent journalism, noting that many media and civil society groups rely on foreign grants for investigative reporting, fact-checking, journalist safety, media development and other public-interest work.

They also argued that provisions relating to foreign aid, national priorities and public interest were insufficiently defined and could give authorities broad discretion in enforcing the proposed law. The organisations warned that the proposed regulatory regime could have a chilling effect on freedom of expression and association, particularly as Nigeria approaches the 2027 general elections.

They also linked their concerns to what they described as an increasingly restricted civic environment, citing the use of criminal defamation and cybercrime laws against journalists and activists, as well as strategic lawsuits against public participation and arrests for peaceful expression.

SERAP and NGE maintained that the bill could impose disproportionate restrictions on organisations receiving foreign grants, donations, technical assistance or development funding.

“The Bill could have serious consequences for independent journalism and civil society organisations, given the reliance of many organisations on foreign grants to support investigative journalism, fact-checking, journalist safety, media development and other public-interest activities.”

“The Bill is unnecessary, duplicative and would impose the additional cost of another regulator on public resources.”

“Nigeria already has a comprehensive legal and institutional framework for corporate registration, financial reporting, taxation, anti-money laundering and anti-corruption enforcement through the Corporate Affairs Commission, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the Special Control Unit against Money Laundering (SCUML), the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit, the Federal Inland Revenue Service and other competent authorities.”

“Nothing in the Bill demonstrates that these institutions are unable to perform their statutory responsibilities or that any Nigerian, including the increasing use of criminal defamation and cybercrime laws against journalists and activists, strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs), arbitrary arrests for peaceful expression, and repeated attempts to expand governmental control over civic actors.”

“Experience across multiple jurisdictions demonstrates that foreign funding laws can be used not to improve transparency but to stigmatise, intimidate and restrict independent civil society organisations and the media. Nigeria should not follow that path.”

Consequently, SERAP and NGE urge the National Assembly to “immediately withdraw and reject the Foreign Aid (Regulation, Transparency and Disclosure) Bill, 2026 (SB.1034), and publicly commit not to reintroduce legislation that unjustifiably restricts civic space, media freedom, or the legitimate activities of civil society organisations and private entities.

“Prioritise legislation that strengthens transparency, accountability, media freedom, civic participation and an enabling environment for private entities, independent civil society, religious, humanitarian, and media organisations.

Refrain from introducing further legislative proposals that undermine democracy, the rule of law, human rights and fundamental freedoms, including during the period leading to the 2027 general elections.

“Uphold the National Assembly’s constitutional responsibility to protect and promote democracy, the rule of law, human rights and fundamental freedoms, and ensure that legislative power is not used to narrow legitimate democratic participation or silence critical voices.”