Public affairs commentator and activist Mahdi Shehu has raised concerns over the proposed Nigerian NGO Regulation Bill before the National Assembly, alleging that its provisions could subject religious, civic and community organisations to expanded government regulation.
Mr Shehu, in a video message obtained and translated from Hausa to English by PRNigeria, said the proposed legislation could affect not only registered non-governmental organisations but also religious institutions, schools, student unions, market associations, transport unions, cooperative societies and informal community groups.
He claimed that the bill, which he said was approaching its final legislative stages, could introduce additional licensing, financial reporting and regulatory requirements for organisations operating across the country.
“If this bill becomes law, it will affect almost every group we know. I’m talking about mosques, churches, schools, student unions, drivers’ unions, market associations, even small groups like adashe (rotational savings groups),” Shehu said.
The activist expressed particular concern over what he described as provisions that could affect the collection and management of donations by religious organisations.
According to him, the proposed framework could require mosques, churches and other faith-based organisations to obtain government approval before collecting certain contributions from their members and subsequently account for funds received and how they were spent.
“For example, a mosque or church won’t just be able to take weekly contributions like we normally do. They will have to write to the government for approval. After collecting the money, they will also have to report how much came in, and the government will decide what the money should be used for,” he alleged.
Mr Shehu further claimed that organisations covered by the proposed legislation could be required to renew their registration every two years and notify relevant authorities before acquiring property or other major assets.
He also raised concerns about the possible application of the proposed regulations to informal associations and online communities, including WhatsApp and Facebook groups, depending on how organisations are defined under the legislation.
“Honestly, I haven’t seen anything like this since colonial times. What is even more worrying is that it could also cover radio, television, and even WhatsApp and Facebook groups,” he said.
The activist urged Nigerians to pay closer attention to the legislative process and participate in public discussions surrounding the proposed law.
Drawing a comparison with the recent debate over the Tax Reform legislation, Shehu said inadequate public engagement could allow significant policy changes to pass without sufficient scrutiny.
“I think we need to pay attention to this now. We didn’t speak up enough on the Tax Bill. If we let this one pass, it will affect the way we organise and speak as citizens,” he cautioned.
The proposed NGO regulatory framework has previously generated debate among civil society stakeholders, particularly over concerns about government oversight and the operational independence of non-governmental and community-based organisations.
However, Mr Shehu’s claims about the scope and specific implications of the proposed legislation could not be independently verified as of the time of filing this report.
The National Assembly had also not issued an official response to the specific claims attributed to the activist.
The development is likely to generate further debate among civil society groups, religious organisations and other stakeholders as the legislative process progresses, particularly over the balance between regulatory oversight, financial accountability and the constitutional rights of citizens and organisations to freely associate and operate.