A coalition of 90 Nigerian, African and international civil society organisations has asked the National Assembly to withdraw the proposed Foreign Aid Regulation, Coordination, Transparency and Disclosure Bill and other legislation it says could restrict civic freedoms.

The proposed law would establish a commission to register, monitor and audit foreign grants, donations and technical assistance received by public institutions, civil society groups and relevant private organisations. It would also require disclosure of donor funded projects and impose penalties for violations.

At a press conference in Abuja, Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre Executive Director Musa Rafsanjani argued that the bill would give the executive excessive authority over independent organisations and duplicate functions already performed by agencies such as the Corporate Affairs Commission, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Special Control Unit against Money Laundering.

The coalition also opposed a proposal requiring social media companies to maintain physical offices in Nigeria, warning that it could increase political pressure on digital platforms and weaken freedom of expression, access to information and public participation ahead of the 2027 elections.

The organisations urged lawmakers to ensure that future legislation affecting civil society, the media and digital rights complies with the Constitution and Nigeria’s international human rights obligations and is subjected to broad public consultation.