Catholic Bishops Reject Foreign Aid Bill, Warn Against Excessive Government Control
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) has urged the National Assembly and the Federal Government to halt further consideration of the proposed Foreign Aids (Regulation, Transparency and Disclosure) Bill 2026, warning that some of its provisions could restrict humanitarian activities and fundamental freedoms.
The bishops also raised concerns over persistent insecurity, poverty, poor infrastructure and governance challenges, calling for stronger measures to address violence, kidnapping, banditry, illegal mining and the displacement of communities across the country.
The positions were contained in a communiqué issued at the end of the CBCN’s Second Plenary Meeting held from September 10 to 18, 2026, at Our Lady and St Kizito Pastoral Centre, Oke-Gada, Ede, Osun State.
The communiqué was signed by the CBCN President, Archbishop Matthew Man-Oso Ndagoso of Kaduna, and the Conference Secretary, Bishop Peter Olukayode Odetoyinbo of Abeokuta Diocese.
On the proposed foreign aid legislation, the bishops said provisions requiring registration of foreign aid resources and government supervision of their use could adversely affect churches, mosques, schools and humanitarian organisations providing assistance to vulnerable and conflict-affected communities.
The Conference particularly faulted a provision that would allow authorities to deny registration or refuse renewal where an organisation’s activities are considered not to be “in the national interest.”
According to the bishops, such a provision could confer broad discretionary powers on government officials, create additional bureaucracy and potentially constrain independent civic space.
They also argued that non-profit organisations and incorporated trustees, including religious and humanitarian bodies, were already subject to regulatory oversight by the Corporate Affairs Commission under the Companies and Allied Matters Act and other extant laws.
The bishops therefore urged the Federal Government and National Assembly not to proceed with the bill, citing the need to safeguard freedom of association, religion, thought and conscience. The CBCN said the bill had passed first and second readings in the National Assembly.
Insecurity
On the security situation, the bishops expressed concern over the continued prevalence of violence, kidnapping, banditry, illegal mining and the alleged theft of the nation’s natural resources.
They said the activities were undermining peace and threatening national unity, while attacks on schools and places of worship had resulted in the abduction and killing of students and worshippers.
The bishops also raised concern over the displacement of communities, with millions of Nigerians reportedly living in internally displaced persons’ camps.
They urged the government to intensify security operations and create conditions that would enable displaced persons to return to their ancestral communities.
The Conference further called for stronger security forces, improved intelligence gathering and accountability for perpetrators of violence. It urged citizens to report suspicious activities, cooperate with security agencies and reject ethnic and religious divisions.
The bishops also renewed their call for the decentralisation of the police system, stressing that any reorganisation should serve the common good rather than personal, ethnic, political or religious interests.
Economy, infrastructure
On the economy, the CBCN called for greater employment opportunities, an enabling environment for businesses and stronger support for local enterprises.
It also urged the government to implement policies capable of reducing the financial burden on poor Nigerians and to ensure transparent investment in critical infrastructure.
The bishops specifically called for the rehabilitation of major roads, improved electricity and water supply, as well as the development of railway infrastructure across the country.
2027 elections
Ahead of the 2027 general elections, the bishops called on political parties, electoral authorities, security agencies and other stakeholders to work towards free, fair and credible elections.
They urged eligible Nigerians to participate actively in the electoral process and vote for candidates according to their consciences.
The Conference directed dioceses and parishes across the country to conduct civic education and voter mobilisation, alongside end-of-month fasting and Rosary processions, from October to December 2026.
It also declared December 8, 2026, as a special national day of prayer and fasting for the success of the 2027 elections.
Technology, AI
On technology and artificial intelligence, the bishops said technology was not inherently evil but cautioned that its application required responsible and ethical judgment.
They encouraged Nigerians to deploy technology responsibly, including for evangelisation, knowledge creation and development.
The Conference also urged politicians and other stakeholders to exercise ethical responsibility in the use of technology and artificial intelligence, particularly as the country approaches the 2027 elections.
The bishops congratulated their Vice President, Archbishop Alfred Adewale Martins of the Lagos Archdiocese, on his appointment to the Dicastery for Evangelisation, Section for First Evangelisation and the New Particular Churches.
They further reiterated their call for a renewed approach to politics anchored on moral principles, respect for human life and dignity, and pursuit of the common good, stressing that “all hope is not lost.”
