President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has declined to sign the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Bill, 2025 into law, citing concerns over financial accountability.

 

His decision was formally communicated in a letter read during plenary on Thursday in the House of Representatives.

 

In the letter, President Tinubu invoked Section 58(4) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), explaining that the proposed legislation contradicts existing fiscal protocols by seeking to allow the NDLEA to retain a portion of proceeds from drug-related crimes.

 

He emphasized that, under current regulations, all proceeds from criminal activity are required to be paid into the government’s Confiscated and Forfeited Properties Account. Any disbursement to recovery agencies like the NDLEA must be authorized by the President and approved by both the Federal Executive Council and the National Assembly.

 

President Tinubu argued that there was no compelling justification to amend a system that ensures transparency and accountability through multi-level oversight.

 

Further details are expected to emerge in subsequent briefings.