President Bola Tinubu has withheld assent to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Amendment Bill, 2025, citing constitutional inconsistencies in the proposed changes. The bill, recently passed by the National Assembly, sought to grant the NDLEA the authority to retain a portion of proceeds recovered from drug-related crimes.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the rejection was formally communicated to the House of Representatives and read on the floor during Thursday’s plenary session by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas. The proposed amendment contradicted existing legal provisions regarding the handling of proceeds from crime.
President Tinubu, referencing Section 58, Subsection 4 of the 1999 Constitution, argued that allowing the NDLEA to retain such funds would breach current financial procedures. Under the law, all funds from confiscated or forfeited assets must be deposited into the Confiscated and Forfeited Properties Account.
He further explained that any allocation or disbursement from this account to enforcement agencies must be authorized by the President, with the consent of the Federal Executive Council and approval from the National Assembly. This ensures transparency and accountability in the management of recovered assets.
By declining the bill, Tinubu has reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to upholding constitutional procedures in matters related to public finance and law enforcement. The decision now puts the ball back in the National Assembly’s court, should they choose to amend the bill or override the presidential veto.
