The Bill on the Recognition and Protection of Human Rights Defenders Bill (HB.1867), sponsored by Rep. Abiola Makinde and Rep. Mudasiru Lukman, passed second reading on the floor of the House of Representatives. The purpose of the Bill is to:
(a) To recognise, respect, protect, promote, and fulfil the right of everyone, individually or in association with others, to promote and to strive for the protection and realization of human rights and fundamental freedoms, at the national and international levels;
(b) To affirm, promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms in Nigeria.
When passed into law, it will help reinforces section 40 of the Constitution which guarantees freedom of association and supports the protection of human right defenders in the country.
This is an outlier pattern which supports the enabling environment for civil society. it affirms the right to receiving and using resources including those around forming associations.
For example the bill says:
Section 4: Right to form groups, associations and organisations
(1) Everyone, individually or in association with others, has the right to form, join, and participate in groups, associations, and non-governmental organisations, whether formal or informal and whether registered or unregistered, for the purpose of promoting and striving for the protection and realisation of human rights and fundamental freedoms.
Section 5: Right to solicit, receive and utilise resources
Everyone, individually or in association with others, has the right to solicit, receive and utilise resources, including from domestic and international sources, including governmental, intergovernmental, philanthropic and private sources, for the express purpose of promoting and striving for the protection and realisation of human rights and fundamental freedoms.