JUST IN: President Tinubu Rejects NDLEA Bill, Cites Constitutional Concerns
By Rejoice Peterside, Abuja
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has withheld his assent to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Amendment Bill, 2025, citing transparency and constitutional concerns surrounding its proposed financial provisions.
In a formal communication to the Senate, read during plenary, the President expressed his decision in accordance with Section 58(4) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), which empowers him to decline assent to any bill passed by the National Assembly.
According to the President, the bill seeks to empower the NDLEA to retain a portion of proceeds derived from drug-related crimes. However, Tinubu argued that this proposal contradicts current legal procedures requiring all forfeited and confiscated assets to be paid into a central account designated for such purposes.
“Currently, all proceeds of crime must be paid into the Confiscated and Forfeited Properties Account,” the President noted. He added that under existing law, any disbursement from such recoveries to a government agency must be approved by the President, subject to clearance by the Federal Executive Council and a national coordinating body.
He stressed that there was no compelling justification to alter the current process, which he said promotes transparency through the involvement of both the executive and legislative arms of government.
“There is no compelling reason to change the current process which promotes transparency as it involves both the executive and legislative arms of government,” Tinubu stated.
He concluded the letter by reaffirming his respect for the Senate, describing the upper chamber as a key partner in governance.
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