President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has withheld his assent to the Amendment Bill of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency.

Tinubu anchored withdrawal of assent on the proposal in the legislation that the NDLEA should retain a certain portion of proceeds from drug-related crimes.

The President said the proposal contradicted current legal procedures requiring all forfeited and confiscated assets to be paid into a central account designated for such purposes.

Relying on Section 58(4) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), which empowers him to decline assent to any bill passed by the National Assembly, the President noted that the funding proposal in the NDLEA Amendment Bill 2025 raised transparency and constitutional concerns.

In a formal communication to the Senate, read during plenary, the President noted: “Currently, all proceeds of crime must be paid into the Confiscated and Forfeited Properties Account,” adding that under existing law, any disbursement from such recoveries to a government agency must be approved by the President, subject to clearance by the Federal Executive Council and a national coordinating body.

He added that there was no compelling justification to alter the current process, which he said promoted transparency through the involvement of both the executive and legislative arms of government.

“There is no compelling reason to change the current process which promotes transparency as it involves both the executive and legislative arms of government,” Tinubu insisted.

He reiterated his respect for the Senate, describing the red chamber as a key partner in governance.