Tinubu held back approval about the Ndlea Amendment Bill on the Constitutional, Fiscal Concerns

The Ball President Ahmed Tinubu has rejected approval to the National Drug Enforcement Agency Amendment Bill (Ndlea), 2025, citing constitutional violations and implications for governance accountability.

The decision, based on section 58 (4), the 1999 constitution (as amended), was delivered in a letter read on the floor of the House of Representatives during the plenary session on Thursday.

The provisions contested in the bill will empower Ndlea to maintain some of the results of drug -related operations. President Tinubu believes that this provision is contrary to existing financial regulations.

“At present, all proceeds of crime must be paid to the confiscated and scorched property accounts,” the President said. “The transfer to any recovery institution, including Ndlea, can only be done with the approval of the President, subject to the approval of the Federal Executive Council and the National Assembly.”

President Tinubu stressed that the set system, designed to ensure transparency and accountability, requires active involvement of the executive and legislative branches. He stated that there was no “there was no strong reason to change the current process.”

Also read: The World Bank includes Nigeria as a country that has the highest number of citizens without access to electricity

Supporters of the Ndlea Bill argue that allowing agencies to directly maintain the percentage of confiscated assets will increase operational efficiency and reduce financial congestion. However, critics reminded that such autonomy can hamper supervision and increase the risk of abuse.

President Tinubu sided with the last view, describing the constitutional framework as an examination needed to prevent unilateral control over restored assets.

With a bill that is now returned without a sign, the National Assembly faces two options: changing the law to harmonize with constitutional requirements or start the majority of two-thirds who put aside to impose them into laws. Tinubu’s rejection can signify the expected revision to ensure strict asset management supervision.

This decision followed the same Veto earlier this week when the President detained approval to the National Library Amendment Bill (Establishment) of the 2025 Bill, citing inconsistency with federal laws and policies regarding agents, taxation, and remuneration funding.