CISLAC, 89 Others Urge NASS To Withdraw Bills Threatening Civic Space

A coalition of 90 Nigerian, African and international civil society and human rights organisations has called on the National Assembly to immediately withdraw pending bills it says threaten civic space, constitutional freedoms and democratic governance in the country.

The coalition, led by the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), made the call yesterday in Abuja during a press conference titled: “Defending Civic Space and Constitutional Freedoms: Civil Society’s Response to Emerging Repressive Bills Before the National Assembly.”

Speaking on behalf of the coalition, Executive Director of CISLAC, Musa Rafsanjani, expressed concern over what he described as a growing trend of legislative and administrative actions aimed at restricting the activities of civil society organisations, independent media and digital platforms.

He warned that the proposed legislation, if enacted, would expand executive control over civic space and erode fundamental rights guaranteed under the Constitution, including the freedoms of expression, association, peaceful assembly and access to information.

According to Rafsanjani, the bills are being introduced at a time when Nigerians are increasingly expressing concerns over democratic governance, the rule of law and the protection of human rights.

Among the bills attracting criticism is the proposed Foreign Aid (Regulation, Transparency and Disclosure) Bill, 2026, which the coalition said would grant government authorities sweeping powers to monitor, regulate, suspend or even shut down non-governmental organisations and other entities receiving foreign assistance.

The coalition argued that existing regulatory agencies, including the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and the Special Control Unit against Money Laundering (SCUML), already provide adequate oversight of civil society organisations, making the establishment of another regulatory commission unnecessary.

The organisations also opposed a separate bill seeking to compel social media companies to establish physical offices in Nigeria or risk being barred from operating in the country.

They maintained that such a requirement could increase government influence over digital platforms, restrict freedom of expression, and discourage innovation and investment in Nigeria’s growing digital economy.

Also speaking, Associate Director of Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA), Abayomi Solumi, said the proposed legislation conflicts with Sections 39 and 40 of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantee the rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association.

He added that the bills are inconsistent with Nigeria’s obligations under regional and international human rights instruments, including the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), and the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights Defenders.

The coalition maintained that international funding remains a legitimate source of support for organisations engaged in humanitarian assistance, human rights advocacy, anti-corruption campaigns, election observation, legal aid and public interest litigation.

It warned that imposing excessive restrictions on foreign assistance could weaken organisations providing essential services while undermining efforts to promote transparency and accountability in governance.

The coalition therefore urged the National Assembly to reject what it described as repressive bills and instead prioritise legislation that strengthens transparency, accountability, public participation and democratic governance.

In his remarks, the Country Manager of Global Rights, Olubunmi Aweda, called on lawmakers to undertake broad consultations with civil society organisations, journalists, human rights defenders, professional bodies, digital rights advocates and development partners before considering any legislation affecting civic space.

Reaffirming their commitment to constitutional democracy, accountability and the rule of law, the organisations urged lawmakers to protect civic freedoms and uphold Nigeria’s constitutional and international human rights obligations.

“The National Assembly faces a defining constitutional choice,” the coalition stated. “It can either pass laws that shrink civic space and weaken democracy or uphold the Constitution and reinforce Nigeria’s commitment to democratic governance, accountability and the rule of law.”

The coalition stressed that protecting civic space is essential to strengthening democracy, promoting transparency and ensuring meaningful citizen participation in governance, particularly as Nigeria prepares for the 2027 general elections.