President Bola Tinubu has declined to assent to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Bill, 2025.
The President’s decision was contained in a letter read by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, during plenary on Thursday.
The proposed law seeks to empower the NDLEA to retain a portion of the proceeds from drug-related crimes, a move Tinubu said contradicts existing financial regulations.
In Tinubu’s letter, he said under the current system, “All proceeds of crime are paid into the government’s Confiscated and Forfeited Properties Account.
“Disbursements to any recovery agency, including the NDLEA, can only be made by presidential approval, subject to the consent of the Federal Executive Council and the National Assembly.”
Tinubu said that the existing procedure ensures accountability and oversight. According to him, there is no need to change it.
Thursday’s rejection is the second time this week that President Tinubu has declined assent to a bill.
Just on Tuesday, he turned down the National Assembly Library Trust Fund (Establishment) Amendment Bill, 2025.
President Tinubu cited inconsistencies with federal laws and policies, especially around agency funding, taxation, and remuneration structures.
However, he is expected to sign into law four groundbreaking tax reform bills, transforming Nigeria’s fiscal and revenue framework.
The four bills —the Nigeria Tax Bill, the Nigeria Tax Administration Bill, the Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Bill, and the Joint Revenue Board (Establishment) Bill —were passed by the National Assembly after extensive consultations with various interest groups and stakeholders.
Meanwhile, a member of the House of Representatives, Chimaobi Atu, from Enugu State, on Thursday joined the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) from the Labour Party (LP).
Atu cited the leadership crisis within the LP as his reason for leaving the Labour Party.
His defection came two days after Peter Akpanke, from the Obanliku/Obudu/Bekwara Federal Constituency in Cross River State, dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the APC.
Also, Paul Nnamchi from Enugu East/Isi-Uzo Federal Constituency in Enugu State, defected from the Labour Party to the ruling APC.
Speaker Tajudeen Abbas announced the decisions of the lawmakers at plenary on Tuesday.
