Groups reject Foreign Aid Bill, urge Senate to withdraw it

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Senate

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ABUJA — Five human rights organisations have called on the National Assembly and the Federal Government to withdraw the Foreign Aids (Regulation, Transparency and Disclosure) Bill, 2026 (SB. 1034), warning that its provisions could restrict civic space and undermine the work of human rights defenders and civil society organisations.

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The organisations are the Nigerian Human Rights Defenders Network (NHRDN), Partnership for Justice, Front Line Defenders (FLD), West African Human Rights Defenders Network (WAHRDN) and Protection International (PI).

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In a joint statement issued on Wednesday, the groups said the bill, sponsored by Senator Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo (PDP, Gombe North), had passed second reading in the Senate in July.

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They said the proposed legislation seeks to establish a Foreign Aid Regulatory Commission (FARC) with powers to register, inspect, audit, sanction and suspend or shut down organisations receiving foreign grants, donations or technical assistance.

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According to the organisations, the proposed regulatory framework could affect independent civic groups, human rights defenders, legal aid providers and humanitarian organisations operating in Nigeria.

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They argued that the bill was inconsistent with Nigeria’s commitments under the fourth cycle of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR), particularly recommendations relating to creating a safe and enabling environment for human rights defenders and civil society organisations.

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The groups also noted that Nigeria is a candidate for election to the United Nations Human Rights Council for the 2027-2029 term, saying the country’s candidacy should be accompanied by stronger domestic protection of human rights defenders.

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The organisations raised concerns over several provisions of the proposed legislation.

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They said Section 6(1), which requires foreign aid to be registered within 30 days of receipt, could create difficulties for emergency funding, including legal defence, relocation assistance and support for survivors of rights violations.

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The groups also criticised Sections 7 and 8, which provide for public disclosure of implementing partners and funded activities through a national register.

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They argued that public disclosure of information involving human rights defenders, survivors, witnesses and individuals involved in sensitive documentation could expose them to security risks.

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The organisations further raised concerns over Section 11, which requires foreign-funded activities to align with Nigeria’s national development plans and priorities.

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They described the provision as broad and potentially capable of affecting organisations working on human rights, land and environmental rights, and support for vulnerable communities.

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The groups also questioned the need for the proposed FARC, arguing that some of its functions could overlap with existing institutions, including the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), Special Control Unit Against Money Laundering (SCUML), Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU).

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The organisations called on the Senate, its leadership and the Federal Government to immediately withdraw the bill.

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They also urged the authorities to ensure that any future legislation regulating civic space and foreign funding complies with the Constitution, the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders and Nigeria’s international human rights obligations.

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The groups called for meaningful consultation with civil society organisations and human rights defenders in developing any future regulatory framework.

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They also demanded explicit legal protection for confidential information concerning human rights defenders, survivors, witnesses and other at-risk individuals receiving support through foreign funding.

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The organisations further called for an expedited framework for emergency and protection-related funding, including legal, medical, psychosocial and relocation support for defenders at risk.

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They urged the government to reaffirm constitutional guarantees on freedom of association, expression and assembly.

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While acknowledging the importance of transparency in the use of foreign funding, the organisations said regulatory mechanisms should not be used to restrict legitimate human rights activities.

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They urged the National Assembly to withdraw SB. 1034 and ensure that any future regulatory framework protects the civic space and those working to defend human rights in Nigeria.

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