Mahdi Shehu warns proposed NGO bill could affect churches, mosques, unions

Public affairs commentator and activist, Mahdi Shehu, has raised concerns over the proposed Nigerian NGO Regulation Bill before the National Assembly, warning that the legislation could expand government oversight of civic, religious and community organisations if enacted.

Shehu made the claims in a video message obtained and translated from Hausa into English by PRNigeria.

According to the activist, the proposed legislation could extend beyond conventional non-governmental organisations to include religious institutions, schools, student unions, market associations, transport unions, cooperative societies and informal community groups.

He alleged that the bill could introduce licensing, financial reporting and other regulatory requirements that would significantly alter how such organisations operate.

“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),” he said.

Shehu expressed particular concern about what he described as provisions affecting religious organisations.

He alleged that mosques, churches and other faith-based organisations could be required to obtain government approval before collecting donations or contributions from members and subsequently account for the funds.

“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.

The activist further claimed that organisations covered by the proposed legislation could be required to renew their registration every two years and notify the government before acquiring property or significant assets.

He also warned that the bill could potentially affect informal associations and online communities, including WhatsApp and Facebook groups, depending on how the legislation defines organisations subject to regulation.

Shehu described the proposal as unusually broad, saying he had not encountered similar provisions in Nigeria’s recent democratic history.

“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.

He urged Nigerians to pay closer attention to the bill and participate in the legislative process before its passage.

Drawing parallels with the debate over the Tax Reform legislation, Shehu said insufficient public engagement could allow significant policy changes to proceed without adequate 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 regulation framework has previously generated debate among civil society organisations, with some stakeholders expressing concerns that increased regulation could affect the operational independence of NGOs and community-based organisations.

However, the National Assembly had not, as of the time of filing the report, publicly responded to Shehu’s specific claims about the scope and implications of the proposed bill.

The claims and interpretations made by the activist could not be independently verified, particularly regarding the alleged application of the proposed provisions to religious institutions, informal associations and social media groups.

The legislative process is expected to provide further clarification on the actual scope of the proposed regulation as lawmakers consider its provisions.