President Bola Ahmed Tinubu

President Bola Tinubu has withheld assent to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Bill, 2025, citing concerns over a contentious clause that would allow the agency to retain proceeds from drug-related crimes.

The president’s decision was conveyed in a letter addressed to the House of Representatives and read during Thursday’s plenary session. Tinubu’s move was made in accordance with Section 58(4) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which empowers the president to reject bills passed by the National Assembly.

The rejected bill sought to grant the NDLEA the authority to keep a portion of funds and assets recovered from drug trafficking and related criminal activities. However, President Tinubu argued that such a provision runs contrary to the country’s existing financial laws and governance framework.

According to him, current financial regulations require that all proceeds from crime be paid into the Confiscated and Forfeited Properties Account managed by the federal government. Any allocation to a recovery agency, including the NDLEA, must be done with presidential approval and the concurrence of the Federal Executive Council and the National Assembly.

“There is no justification for altering this established system, which was put in place to ensure financial accountability and uphold robust executive and legislative oversight,” Tinubu stated in his letter.

The rejection is expected to spark fresh legislative deliberations, as lawmakers may either amend the controversial provisions or attempt to override the president’s decision through a two-thirds majority vote in both chambers of the National Assembly.