A bill seeking to compel Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) operating in Nigeria to register all foreign aid and donor-funded projects with the government has passed second reading in the Senate.
The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, announced the passage during Wednesday’s plenary after a majority of senators supported it through a voice vote.
After the passage, the bill was referred to the Senate Committees on National Planning and Economic Development and Finance for public hearing. The committees were directed to report back within four weeks.
The Bill, sponsored by Ibrahim Dankwambo, the senator representing Gombe North Senatorial District, seeks to establish a National Donor Coordination Framework, make registration of all donor-funded projects compulsory, and create a national database of foreign assistance.
It also proposes integrating donor-funded interventions into government budgets, mandating public disclosure of funding sources and project implementation details, and imposing sanctions for the diversion, misuse or non-registration of donor funds.
