By Emmanuel Odekina Iyede
Nigeria’s proposed legislation to regulate non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and civil society organisations (CSOs) has renewed debate over government oversight, transparency and the freedom of civil society groups to operate.
The proposal has attracted opposition from several civil society organisations, which argue that Nigeria already has laws regulating nonprofits and that creating another regulatory agency could give government excessive control over their activities.
The controversy is not new. Similar attempts to introduce a dedicated regulatory framework for NGOs have been debated in previous National Assemblies.
What Is the NGO Regulation Bill?
The current proposal is the Non-Governmental and Civil Society Organisations Agency (Establishment) Bill, 2025, listed as HB 3019.
The bill seeks to establish an agency responsible for regulating and coordinating NGOs and CSOs operating in Nigeria.
Its stated objectives include promoting transparency and accountability and encouraging NGOs and CSOs to operate according to Nigerian laws.
The proposal has revived concerns that government regulation could go beyond financial accountability and affect the independence of organisations involved in human rights, governance, anti-corruption and public advocacy.
Who Sponsored the Bill?
The bill is sponsored by Hon. Sada Soli, a member of the House of Representatives from Katsina State.
Soli previously sponsored a similar proposal, HB 941, in 2023.
That earlier bill sought to establish a Non-Governmental and Civil Society Organisations Agency to regulate NGO and CSO activities.
The bill generated strong opposition from civil society organisations and was stepped down during consideration in the House in February 2024.
The 2025 proposal represents another attempt to establish a dedicated regulatory framework.
What Would the Proposed Agency Do?
The proposed agency would be responsible for supervising and coordinating NGOs and CSOs.
The bill provides for functions relating to transparency, accountability, registration and coordination of organisations.
It would also establish a framework through which government could monitor whether NGOs are operating within the requirements of the law.
Supporters say such oversight could help identify fraudulent organisations and improve accountability in a sector that handles donations, grants and other funds.
Critics, however, are concerned about the extent of government control that could result from the proposed framework.
Why Is the Bill Controversial?
The central disagreement is not whether NGOs should be accountable.
Most stakeholders agree that organisations receiving public or donor funds should maintain proper financial records and comply with Nigerian laws.
The disagreement concerns how far government regulation should go.
Civil society organisations fear that giving a government agency extensive powers over NGOs could affect organisations that investigate government activities, monitor elections, campaign against corruption or advocate for human rights.
Similar concerns were raised during earlier attempts to establish an NGO regulatory commission. Amnesty International previously described the proposed framework as potentially harmful to human rights and civil society operations.
What Does the Bill Seek to Regulate?
The proposed framework focuses on several areas of NGO operations.
These include:
- Registration of NGOs and CSOs
- Transparency and accountability
- Financial reporting
- Monitoring of organisational activities
- Coordination of NGO operations
- Compliance with Nigerian laws
The bill’s stated objective is to ensure that organisations fulfil their missions according to the law.
The controversy arises over how these powers would be exercised and whether the regulator would have sufficient independence from political authorities.
Do NGOs Already Face Regulation in Nigeria?
Yes.
NGOs do not currently operate without regulatory obligations.
Organisations are subject to existing legal, financial, tax and reporting requirements depending on their structure and activities.
This is one of the main arguments advanced by opponents of a new NGO regulatory agency.
They contend that government should strengthen enforcement of existing laws instead of creating another institution with overlapping responsibilities.
The debate therefore centres on whether Nigeria needs more regulation or better enforcement of existing regulation.
What Are Civil Society Organisations Saying?
Civil society groups have repeatedly expressed concern about proposals that could expand government control over their activities.
Their argument is that NGOs play an important role in areas such as humanitarian assistance, healthcare, education, poverty reduction, human rights, governance and election monitoring.
They also argue that an independent civil society is necessary for holding public institutions accountable.
CIVICUS previously warned that an earlier version of Nigeria’s NGO bill could weaken the ability of civil society groups to hold government accountable and protect human rights.
The Nigeria Network of NGOs has also continued to monitor the country’s regulatory proposals affecting civil society.
What Do Supporters of Regulation Say?
Supporters of stronger regulation argue that NGOs should be accountable for the money they receive and how they use it.
They point to concerns surrounding fraudulent organisations, financial mismanagement and the possibility of funds being diverted for unlawful purposes.
From this perspective, a dedicated regulatory framework could provide greater transparency and make it easier for government and the public to distinguish legitimate organisations from fraudulent entities.
The challenge is finding a regulatory system that achieves those objectives without giving government excessive control over legitimate civil society activity.
The Foreign Aid Bill Is a Different Proposal
The NGO Regulation Bill should not be confused with the Foreign Aid (Regulation, Coordination, Transparency and Disclosure) Bill, 2026, SB 1034.
SB 1034 is a separate Senate proposal concerning foreign aid, grants and donations.
The bill has generated its own controversy because it proposes a framework for registering, monitoring and overseeing foreign assistance entering Nigeria. Recent reports indicate that civil society groups have called for its withdrawal, citing concerns about additional regulatory burdens and civic space.
The distinction matters because discussions about the two proposals have increasingly overlapped.
HB 3019 focuses on establishing an agency for NGOs and CSOs, while SB 1034 focuses on foreign aid, grants and donations.
Why Foreign Funding Matters
Foreign grants are an important source of funding for many Nigerian NGOs.
International donors support programmes covering healthcare, education, humanitarian assistance, poverty reduction, governance, human rights and other areas.
Supporters of stronger oversight argue that foreign funding should be transparent and properly accounted for.
Civil society organisations accept the need for transparency but warn that excessive controls could make it more difficult for legitimate organisations to receive and deploy donor funds.
The current debate over SB 1034 has brought these concerns back into national focus. PLAC has similarly highlighted the need to balance foreign-aid oversight with the constitutional space within which civil society operates.
Could the Bill Affect Human Rights Organisations?
This is one of the biggest concerns raised by critics.
Human rights organisations frequently investigate government policies and actions.
Some also monitor elections, campaign against corruption and advocate for changes to government policy.
Critics fear that a regulator with broad powers could potentially be used to pressure organisations that take positions unpopular with government.
That concern has been part of Nigeria’s NGO regulation debate for years.
Supporters of the bill reject the idea that regulation necessarily means government interference, arguing that organisations that comply with the law should have nothing to fear.
The effectiveness of any new framework would therefore depend heavily on the independence of the regulator, the clarity of its powers and the availability of legal remedies.
The Key Question for Nigeria
The debate ultimately comes down to one question:
How can Nigeria improve accountability among NGOs without restricting legitimate civil society activities?
There is a strong argument for financial transparency.
NGOs receiving grants and donations should be able to account for those resources.
But regulation should also provide clear rules, predictable procedures and safeguards against arbitrary decisions.
For civil society groups, the concern is that regulation should not become a tool for controlling organisations simply because they criticise government policies or demand accountability.
What Happens Next?
The National Assembly’s handling of the bill will determine whether the proposal advances, is amended or eventually fails.
Attention will focus on the powers given to the proposed agency, registration requirements, financial reporting obligations and the mechanisms available to organisations that challenge regulatory decisions.
The relationship between government regulation and civil society independence is likely to remain a major part of the debate.
For Nigerians, the important issue is not simply whether NGOs should be regulated.
It is whether the proposed framework can promote accountability without weakening the independence of civil society.
The Bureau Journal will continue to monitor developments surrounding the proposed NGO regulation framework and other legislation affecting Nigeria’s civil society sector.
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