President Bola Tinubu has declined to sign the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Bill, 2025 into law, citing concerns over its contradiction with existing financial regulations.

In a letter read during Thursday’s plenary session in the House of Representatives, Tinubu invoked Section 58(4) of the 1999 Constitution to explain his decision.

The President opposed a provision in the bill that seeks to allow the NDLEA to retain a portion of proceeds from drug-related crimes, stating that all such funds must, under current regulations, be deposited into the government’s Confiscated and Forfeited Properties Account.

He emphasized that disbursements to any recovery agency, including the NDLEA, require presidential approval and must be backed by the Federal Executive Council and the National Assembly.

Tinubu maintained that there was no compelling justification to alter a framework designed to ensure transparency and oversight.