The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) has urged the National Assembly and the Federal Government to abandon the Foreign Aids (Regulation, Transparency and Disclosure) Bill 2026, warning that it could hamper humanitarian work and threaten fundamental freedoms.
In a communiqué issued after its Second Plenary Meeting, held at Our Lady and St. Kizito Pastoral Centre, Oke-Gada, Ede, Osun State, from September 10 to 18, 2026, the conference also lamented the state of security and the economy, despite the country’s vast human and natural resources.
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.
Foreign aid bill
The bishops said provisions requiring the registration of foreign aid resources and government oversight of how they are used could hurt churches, mosques, schools and humanitarian organisations that assist vulnerable and conflict-hit communities.
They took particular issue with clauses that would allow authorities to deny or refuse to renew an organisation’s registration if its activities are considered “not in the national interest.”
According to them, this would hand government officials sweeping discretionary powers and add bureaucracy for organisations that are already regulated.
“This Bill, which allows authorities to deny registration or refuse renewals if an organization’s work is deemed ‘not in the national interest’, gives broad, undue discretionary powers to government officials,” the communiqué stated.
It added: “Non-profit organisations and Incorporated Trustees including Churches, Mosques, other religious bodies, and humanitarian groups are already strictly regulated by the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) under the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) and some other extant laws.”
The bishops asked lawmakers and the Federal Government not to proceed with the bill, citing the need to protect freedom of association, religion, thought and conscience.
Insecurity
Turning to security, the bishops expressed alarm over persistent violence, kidnapping, banditry, illegal mining and the alleged looting of the nation’s natural resources, which they said continue to rob Nigerians of peace and threaten national unity.
They condemned attacks on schools and places of worship, and the abduction and killing of students and worshippers. They noted that displacement had left millions of Nigerians in IDP camps.
The bishops urged the government to step up efforts to secure communities and enable displaced persons to return to their ancestral homes. They also called for stronger security forces, better intelligence gathering and accountability for perpetrators of violence.
Citizens were urged to report suspicious activities, cooperate with security agencies and reject ethnic and religious divisions. The bishops further advocated the decentralisation of the police, insisting that the force should serve the common good rather than personal, ethnic, political or religious interests.
Economy
On the economy, they called on the government to create more jobs, foster a conducive environment for business and support local enterprises.
They also asked for policies that would ease the financial burden on poor Nigerians and for transparent investment in public infrastructure, specifically citing the need to rehabilitate major roads, improve power supply, provide access to clean water and develop the railway network.
2027 elections
Looking ahead to the 2027 general elections, the bishops charged political parties, electoral authorities, security agencies and other stakeholders to work for free, fair and credible polls. They urged eligible voters to take part and choose qualified candidates according to their conscience.
Dioceses and parishes nationwide were directed to undertake civic education and voter mobilisation, alongside end-of-month fasting and Rosary processions, from October to December 2026. December 8, 2026, was declared a national day of prayer and fasting for the success of the elections.
The bishops also asked citizens to study the Conference’s pastoral letter on the elections and follow its guidelines.
Technology and AI
On technology and artificial intelligence, the bishops stressed the primacy of the spiritual over the material. They said technology is not inherently evil or opposed to humanity, but is “never neutral.”
They encouraged Nigerians to use technology responsibly, including for evangelisation and for turning data into knowledge and insight, and urged politicians and other stakeholders to exercise ethical judgment in deploying technology and AI as the 2027 elections draw near.
Other matters
The Conference congratulated its Vice President, Archbishop Alfred Adewale Martins of Lagos, on his appointment to the Dicastery for Evangelisation, Section for First Evangelisation and the New Particular Churches.
It also renewed its call for a politics grounded in moral principles, respect for human life and dignity, and the pursuit of the common good, insisting that “all hope is not lost.”
Note: the second headline in your source (“Blessing same-sex marriage against God’s law…”) points to a same-sex marriage position, but the article body has nothing on it. Confirm that against the communiqué before you use that angle in a headline or subhead.
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