President Tinubu Rejects NDLEA Bill Over Financial Regulation Concerns

President Bola Tinubu has officially declined to sign the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Bill, 2025, citing conflicts with Nigeria’s financial regulatory framework. The announcement came during a House of Representatives plenary session on Thursday, where Speaker Tajudeen Abbas read the President’s letter explaining his decision.

The bill, passed by the National Assembly, proposed granting the NDLEA the power to retain a portion of the proceeds recovered from drug-related crimes. However, President Tinubu objected, stating that such provisions contradict Nigeria’s current financial management laws.

According to him, all proceeds from criminal activities are, by law, required to be deposited into the government’s Confiscated and Forfeited Properties Account.

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In his letter, Tinubu emphasized that any disbursement from this account to agencies like the NDLEA must receive presidential approval and be subject to clearance by the Federal Executive Council and the National Assembly. This process, he noted, ensures transparency, accountability, and institutional oversight.

“There is no justification for changing a system that is already working and aligned with national accountability standards,” the President wrote.

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This marks the second time in the same week that President Tinubu has declined to assent to a legislative proposal. Just days earlier, he rejected the National Assembly Library Trust Fund (Establishment) Amendment Bill, 2025, also citing inconsistencies with existing federal policies, especially those related to funding and agency operations.

Despite these rejections, Tinubu recently signed four major tax reform bills into law aimed at overhauling Nigeria’s revenue and tax administration system. The contrasting decisions reflect a presidency keen on aligning legislative actions with broader fiscal and governance principles.

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