President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has formally declined to sign the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Amendment Bill 2025 into law, citing constitutional inconsistencies and concerns over financial accountability.
The President’s decision was conveyed in a letter read aloud during Thursday’s plenary session in the House of Representatives by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas. The letter, invoking Section 58(4) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), outlined the President’s objections to a key provision in the bill that would have allowed the NDLEA to retain a portion of the proceeds recovered from drug-related crimes.
According to President Tinubu, such a provision directly contradicts existing financial regulations, which mandate that all proceeds of crime be deposited into the Confiscated and Forfeited Properties Account maintained by the federal government. He emphasised that any disbursement of such funds to agencies like the NDLEA must be authorized by the President and approved by both the Federal Executive Council and the National Assembly.
“There is no compelling reason to alter the current framework, which ensures transparency and oversight in the management of recovered assets,” the President stated in his letter. He warned that allowing agencies to retain portions of seized assets could undermine accountability and weaken institutional checks and balances.
The NDLEA Amendment Bill, which had sailed through both chambers of the National Assembly, was designed to enhance the agency’s operational autonomy and funding capacity. Proponents argued that enabling the agency to retain a share of recovered assets would boost its efficiency in combating drug trafficking and related crimes.
However, critics of the bill, including the Presidency, contend that such financial autonomy could open the door to abuse and mismanagement. The rejection has sparked debate among lawmakers, with some calling for a redraft of the bill to address the constitutional concerns raised by the President.
This marks the second time in a week that President Tinubu has withheld assent to legislation passed by the National Assembly. Earlier, he declined to sign the National Assembly Library Trust Fund (Establishment) Amendment Bill, citing similar concerns over fiscal governance and statutory compliance.
Further deliberations on the NDLEA bill are expected in the coming weeks, as legislators weigh the implications of the President’s objections and consider possible revisions.
