SERAP, NGE Demand Withdrawal Of Foreign Aid Regulation Bill, Warn Of Legal Action
By Sunday Etuka
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) and the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) have called on Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and House Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas, to withdraw the Foreign Aids (Regulation, Transparency and Disclosure) Bill, 2026 (SB.1034), describing it as unlawful, unconstitutional and a threat to civic space and media freedom.
In a joint open letter dated August 29, 2026, signed by SERAP Deputy Director Kolawole Oluwadare and NGE General Secretary Onuoha Ukeh, the organisations warned that the bill, sponsored by Senator Ibrahim Dankwambo (PDP, Gombe North), would create sweeping governmental control over civil society groups, independent media, religious bodies and other entities that receive foreign assistance, despite being framed as a transparency measure.
The bill proposes mandatory registration and disclosure requirements for organisations receiving foreign funding, along with sanctions including a minimum fine of N20 million for civil society organisations and private entities, and possible suspension or revocation of operating licences.
It would also establish a Foreign Aid Regulatory Commission (FARC) empowered to register affected organisations, compel disclosures, inspect records, investigate activities, issue directives and impose administrative sanctions.
SERAP and NGE argued the legislation is unnecessary and duplicative, noting that Nigeria already has agencies such as the Corporate Affairs Commission, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, SCUML, the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit and the Federal Inland Revenue Service overseeing registration, financial reporting and anti-corruption enforcement.
They said nothing in the bill shows these bodies are failing in their duties or that a new regulator is justified.
The groups also faulted the bill’s vague terminology, including undefined references to “foreign aid,” “national priorities” and “public interest,” arguing this fails constitutional and international standards requiring legality, necessity and proportionality in any restriction on rights.
They said the bill conflicts with sections 39 and 40 of the Nigerian Constitution guaranteeing freedom of expression and association, as well as the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders.
Warning that the bill would extend its reach to media houses, labour unions, universities, research institutes, humanitarian organisations and technology hubs that receive foreign grants, the groups said its steep penalties, including fines, licence revocation and possible imprisonment, would place undue pressure on independence and encourage self-censorship, particularly ahead of the 2027 general elections.
SERAP and NGE urged the National Assembly to withdraw the bill, commit to not reintroducing similar legislation, and instead prioritise laws that strengthen transparency and civic participation.
They cautioned that if the bill is passed despite these concerns, they would consider “all appropriate legal action in the public interest” to challenge it and protect freedom of association, media freedom and civic participation.
