Five human rights organisations have jointly called on the National Assembly to withdraw the Foreign Aids (Regulation, Transparency and Disclosure) Bill 2026, codenamed SB. 1034, warning that it could restrict civic space and put human rights defenders at risk.
In a joint statement issued on Wednesday, the Nigerian Human Rights Defenders Network, Partnership for Justice, Front Line Defenders, West African Human Rights Defenders Network, and Protection International said the Bill directly contradicts commitments Nigeria made during its fourth Universal Periodic Review (UPR) cycle to protect freedom of association, assembly and expression.
UPR is a unique process established by the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC). It involves a periodic review of the human rights records of all 193 UN member states.
About Bill
The Bill, sponsored by Ibrahim Dankwambo, a senator representing Gombe North in May 2026, passed second reading in the Senate in July. It seeks to establish a Foreign Aid Regulatory Commission to track, register, audit, coordinate, sanction and suspend all foreign grants, donor funds and technical assistance.
