The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project and the Nigerian Guild of Editors have urged the National Assembly to reject the proposed Foreign Aid (Regulation, Transparency and Disclosure) Bill, 2026, warning that it could undermine civic space, media freedom and democratic participation in Nigeria.
The organisations made the call in a joint open letter dated August 29, 2026, addressed to the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas.
The letter, signed by SERAP’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, and the NGE’s General Secretary, Mr Onuoha Ukeh, stated that the Bill, sponsored by Ibrahim Dankwambo (PDP, Gombe North), was “unnecessary, unlawful, unconstitutional and a threat to civic space, media freedom and democratic participation in Nigeria.”
SERAP and NGE said the proposed legislation, if passed, would create “an extensive framework for governmental control” over civil society organisations, independent media organisations, religious bodies and private entities receiving foreign assistance.
The organisations said, “Although the Bill is presented in the guise of promoting transparency, it would establish an extensive framework for governmental control over civil society organisations and private entities receiving foreign assistance.”
