President Bola Tinubu has declined to sign the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Bill, 2025, into law.
The decision was conveyed in a letter read on the floor of the House of Representatives on Thursday, during plenary.
Citing Section 58(4) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), Tinubu explained that the bill’s provision allowing the NDLEA to retain part of the proceeds from drug-related crimes conflicts with current financial regulations.
According to the President, 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.
He stated that the existing procedure ensures accountability and oversight, and he saw no justification for changing it.
This is the second time in the week that the President has withheld assent to a bill. On Tuesday, he rejected the National Assembly Library Trust Fund (Establishment) Amendment Bill, 2025, citing inconsistencies with federal laws and policies, particularly around agency funding, taxation, and remuneration structures.
