The #FixPolitics Initiative has warned the Nigerian authorities to be careful with their transparency policy on foreign aid, so it does not turn into state control.

In a statement, the Executive Director, #FixPolitics Africa, Anthony Ubani, asserted that legislation must be judged not by the attractiveness of its title, but by the powers it creates, who exercises those powers and how they can be used.

On this basis, the #FixPolitics Initiative called for the withdrawal of SB.1034 in its present form.

According to #FixPolitics, the Foreign Aid (Regulation, Transparency and Disclosure) Bill, 2026 (SB.1034) sounds, from its title, like legislation every responsible citizen should support, adding, “After all, who could reasonably oppose transparency, accountability and proper disclosure of foreign assistance coming into Nigeria?”

It expressed support for transparency in foreign assistance, since Nigeria has every right to protect its financial system against money laundering, terrorism financing, corruption and the diversion of donor funds.

“Public institutions receiving foreign assistance must also be fully accountable for how such resources are used,” it stated, arguing that the problem with the bill was not its stated objective, but the excessive regulatory architecture proposed in pursuit of that objective.

Civil society, the group pointed out, cannot be placed under government control.

“The bill fails to make a sufficient distinction between foreign assistance received by government and legitimate grants received by independent civil society organisations. These are fundamentally different.

“The bill extends regulatory power over grants received by all independent civil society organisations, including religious bodies, private organisations and traditional institutions, treating a private foundation’s grant to any Nigerian organisation outside government as if it were public money simply because it crossed a border.”

#FixPolitics noted that Nigeria does not lack regulatory institutions, and that civil society organisations are already subject to registration, financial reporting, tax, banking, anti-money-laundering and counter-terrorism-financing requirements through the Corporate Affairs Commission, Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit, Special Control Unit Against Money Laundering and other agencies.

Nigeria, he added, already has a Development Cooperation Dashboard for tracking and improving visibility around development assistance.

“If these systems are inadequate, strengthen them. Creating another layer of bureaucracy, reporting requirements and regulatory discretion risks generating more paperwork and opportunities for interference without necessarily producing greater accountability.

“Criminality must be separated from administrative failure. We are particularly concerned about the severe sanctions contemplated under the bill, including substantial fines, possible imprisonment and other penalties for non-compliance. Fraud, terrorism financing, money laundering and deliberate diversion of funds should be investigated and prosecuted vigorously,” Ubani stated.

However, he argued that administrative failures such as delayed registration or reporting breaches must not casually be treated like criminal conduct, as transparency and freedom are not competing choices.

According to the group, Nigeria does not have to choose between accountability and an independent civil society, since it can have both.

“Indeed, we must insist on both. If the National Assembly believes that Nigeria requires a stronger framework for coordinating foreign assistance, it should develop one through broad consultation with civil society, government institutions, development partners, humanitarian organisations, financial regulators and constitutional experts.

“The widespread concern expressed by civil society organisations over SB.1034 should therefore not be dismissed as opposition to accountability. Civil society must be transparent and accountable. But it must also remain independent,” it stated.

For the above reasons, #FixPolitics called on Senator Ibrahim Dankwambo to reconsider and withdraw SB.1034 in its present form. It equally urged the relevant Senate committees and the National Assembly not to advance the bill without fundamental reconsideration.

“Transparency is essential. Accountability is essential. National security is essential. But none of them should become a backdoor through which the state acquires the power to determine which independent civic organisations may operate, what causes they may pursue, or how freely they may hold the government to account.

“A confident democracy does not fear independent civil society; it protects it,” the group added.

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