The President of Nigeria, Bola Tinubu, has declined to sign the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Amendment Bill, 2025, which was recently passed by the National Assembly. The bill aimed to grant the NDLEA authority to retain a portion of the proceeds from drug-related crimes directly.
In a letter read out during Senate plenary, Tinubu cited constitutional concerns, specifically Section 58(4) of the 1999 Constitution, noting that under current law, all proceeds of crime must be paid into the Confiscated and Forfeited Properties Account. Disbursement to any government agency requires presidential approval and the consent of the Federal Executive Council and the National Assembly.
The President stressed that the proposed amendment undermines the existing framework designed to ensure transparency and accountability. He maintained there is no compelling reason to alter the current process, which involves checks and balances from both the executive and legislative arms of government.