BREAKING: Tinubu Withholds Assent To NDLEA Bill Over Asset Retention Clause

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has declined to sign the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Establishment Bill, 2025, raising constitutional and fiscal concerns over a contentious provision that would allow the agency to retain a share of proceeds from drug-related crime recoveries.

The president’s decision was formally conveyed in a letter read aloud during Thursday’s plenary session of the House of Representatives. Citing Section 58(4) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), Tinubu said the bill, though passed by both chambers of the National Assembly, conflicts with existing legal frameworks governing public funds and asset forfeiture.

According to the president, the current financial architecture mandates that all forfeited proceeds from criminal activities must be deposited into the Confiscated and Forfeited Properties Account managed by the federal government. Any disbursement to law enforcement or recovery agencies—including the NDLEA—must be subjected to presidential approval and further vetted by the Federal Executive Council and the National Assembly.

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“There is no compelling justification to deviate from a system that ensures executive and legislative oversight in managing recovered assets,” the letter stated.

Analysts believe the clause in question was intended to bolster the NDLEA’s operational capacity by providing it with direct access to part of its seizures. However, critics argue such a provision could incentivize misuse of power and weaken oversight mechanisms.

The bill’s rejection is expected to trigger a legislative review, potentially reopening debates on the funding model for law enforcement agencies engaged in anti-narcotics and asset recovery operations.

As of press time, officials from the National Assembly and the NDLEA were yet to issue formal responses to the president’s decision.