Catholic Bishops oppose foreign aid regulation bill

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By Olayinka Latona

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ABUJA — The Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria, CBCN, has called on the National Assembly and the Federal Government to halt moves to enact the Foreign Aids (Regulation, Transparency and Disclosure) Bill 2026, warning that the proposed legislation could undermine humanitarian activities and fundamental freedoms.

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The bishops also decried the worsening security and economic situation in the country, citing insecurity, poverty, poor infrastructure and governance challenges despite Nigeria’s abundant human and natural resources.

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The bishops made their position known in a communiqué issued at the end of their Second Plenary Meeting held at Our Lady and St. Kizito Pastoral Centre, Oke-Gada, Ede, Osun State, from September 10 to 18, 2026.

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The communiqué was signed by the CBCN President, Archbishop Matthew Man-Oso Ndagoso of Kaduna, and the Conference Secretary, Bishop Peter Olukayode Odetoyinbo of Abeokuta Diocese.

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On the proposed foreign aid legislation, the bishops said some of its provisions requiring registration of foreign aid resources and government supervision of their use could negatively affect churches, mosques, schools and humanitarian organisations providing assistance to vulnerable and conflict-affected communities.

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They expressed concern over provisions that could allow authorities to deny or refuse renewal of registration where an organisation’s activities are considered “not in the national interest.”

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According to the bishops, such provisions could give government officials broad discretionary powers and create additional bureaucracy for organisations already subject to existing regulatory frameworks.

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The communiqué stated: “This Bill, which allows authorities to deny registration or refuse renewals if an organization’s work is deemed ‘not in the national interest’, gives broad, undue discretionary powers to government officials.

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“Again, the Bill risks creating an unnecessary layer of bureaucracy, duplicating existing laws, and granting excessive government control that could stifle independent civic space.

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“Non-profit organisations and Incorporated Trustees including Churches, Mosques, other religious bodies, and humanitarian groups are already strictly regulated by the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) under the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) and some other extant laws.”

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The bishops therefore urged the National Assembly and the Federal Government not to proceed with the legislation, citing the need to protect freedom of association, religion, thought and conscience.

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“We, therefore, request the National Assembly and the federal government not to proceed with the processes of making this Bill into law in the interest of fundamental rights of association and freedom of religion, thought and conscience, and the overall development of our people and nation,” they said.

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On insecurity, the bishops expressed concern over the persistence of violence, kidnapping, banditry, illegal mining and the alleged theft of the country’s natural resources.

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They said the activities had continued to deprive Nigerians of peace and threaten national unity.

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The bishops also lamented attacks on schools and places of worship, as well as the abduction and killing of students and worshippers, noting that the displacement of communities had left millions of Nigerians in Internally Displaced Persons, IDP, camps.

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They urged the government to intensify efforts to secure communities and create conditions for displaced persons to return to their ancestral homes.

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They also called for stronger security forces, improved intelligence gathering and accountability for those responsible for acts of violence.

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The bishops urged Nigerians to report suspicious activities, cooperate with security agencies and reject ethnic and religious divisions.

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They further called for the decentralisation of the police system, saying it should be deployed for the common good rather than personal, ethnic, political or religious interests.

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On the economy, the bishops urged the government to create more employment opportunities, provide an enabling environment for businesses and support local enterprises.

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They also called for economic policies capable of reducing the financial burden on poor Nigerians, as well as transparent investment in public infrastructure.

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The Conference specifically called for the rehabilitation of major roads, improved electricity supply, access to clean water and development of railway infrastructure across the country.

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On the 2027 general elections, the bishops called on political parties, electoral authorities, security agencies and other stakeholders to work towards free, fair and credible elections.

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They urged eligible voters to participate actively and vote for qualified candidates according to their consciences.

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The bishops directed dioceses and parishes across the country to embark on civic education and voter mobilisation, alongside end-of-month fasting and Rosary processions, from October to December 2026.

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They also announced December 8, 2026, as a special national day of prayer and fasting for the success of the elections.

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The bishops urged citizens to study the pastoral letter issued by the Conference on the forthcoming elections and follow its provisions and guidelines.

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On technology and artificial intelligence, the bishops affirmed what they described as the primacy of the spiritual over the material, saying technology was not inherently evil or antagonistic to humanity but was “never neutral.”

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They urged Nigerians to deploy technology responsibly, including as a tool for evangelisation and for transforming data into knowledge and insights.

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The bishops also called on politicians and other stakeholders to exercise responsibility and ethical judgment in the use of technology and artificial intelligence, particularly as the 2027 elections approach.

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The Conference congratulated its Vice President, Archbishop Alfred Adewale Martins of the Lagos Archdiocese, on his appointment to the Dicastery for Evangelisation, Section for First Evangelisation and the New Particular Churches.

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It also reiterated its call for a renewed approach to politics anchored on moral principles, respect for human life and dignity, and the pursuit of the common good, stressing that “all hope is not lost.”

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