SERAP and NGE Oppose Foreign Aid Regulation Bill, 2026

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) and the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) have urged the National Assembly to reject the proposed Foreign Aid (Regulation, Transparency and Disclosure) Bill, 2026. In a joint open letter dated August 29, 2026, addressed to Senate President Godswill Akpabio and House Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, the organizations warned that the bill could undermine civic space, media freedom, and democratic participation in Nigeria.

The bill, sponsored by Ibrahim Dankwambo (PDP, Gombe North), is described as “unnecessary, unlawful, unconstitutional,” and a threat to civil society. It proposes mandatory registration and disclosure requirements for organizations receiving foreign aid, with sanctions including fines of at least N20 million and potential suspension of operating licenses.

SERAP and NGE argue that existing institutions already regulate financial activities, making the new bill redundant. They also criticized vague terms in the bill, such as “foreign aid” and “public interest,” which could lead to arbitrary enforcement and violate human rights standards.