A coalition of civil society organisations has called on the National Assembly to withdraw a series of controversial bills that poses threats to civic freedoms, democratic participation and constitutional rights in the country.

The coalition during a press conference on Monday in Abuja, urged the Senate President, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the leadership of both chambers and all lawmakers to withdraw the Foreign Aids (Regulation, Transparency and Disclosure) Bill, 2026 (SB.1034).

The Executive Director of Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), Auwal Musa Rafsanjani said the proposed legislation required social media platforms to establish physical offices in Nigeria, and other pending bills that it believes unjustifiably restrict civic space.

He said the proposed legislation threatens fundamental rights, including freedom of expression, association, peaceful assembly, media freedom, access to information and democratic participation.

Auwal called on lawmakers to ensure that future legislation affecting civil society organisations, digital rights, media freedom and civic participation complies with the Nigerian Constitution.

He said the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and other applicable international human rights standards.

The Country Manager and Director of Global Rights Nigeria, Olubunmi Aweda urged the National Assembly to undertake genuine, transparent and meaningful consultations with civil society organisations, journalists, human rights defenders, professional bodies, digital rights organisations, development partners and other stakeholders before passing reforms that could affect civic freedoms.

She appealed to lawmakers to reaffirm Nigeria’s commitment to constitutionalism, accountability, transparency, the rule of law and respect for human rights.

Describing the moment as a defining test for Nigeria’s democracy, she said the National Assembly faces a constitutional choice between passing laws that expand executive control and shrink civic space or upholding constitutional guarantees and Nigeria’s regional and international human rights obligations.

The Country Director of Amnesty International, Isa Sanusi urged lawmakers to reject the bills in their entirety and instead pursue legislation that protects civic space, strengthens transparency and accountability, promotes meaningful public participation and reinforces Nigeria’s constitutional and democratic values.

Also, Associate Director, Corporate Accountability & Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) Abayomi Sarumi said they were concerned by legislative proposals seeking social media platforms to establish physical offices in Nigeria or face prohibition from operating in the country.

He said such proposals would substantially increase governmental leverage over digital platforms that facilitate public debate, access to information and civic participation.

“Conditioning access to Nigeria’s digital market on physical establishment, backed by the threat of prohibition, is neither necessary nor proportionate to any legitimate regulatory objective.

” Such measures risk facilitating censorship, restricting access to information, discouraging innovation and investment, and encouraging private companies to prioritise political pressure over internationally recognised human rights standards.

“Both the Foreign Aids (Regulation, Transparency and Disclosure) Bill and the proposed legislation requiring social media platforms to establish physical offices in Nigeria are incompatible with Nigeria’s constitutional, regional and international human rights obligations,” he said.