President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has withheld his assent to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Establishment Amendment Bill.
This decision was conveyed in an official communication addressed to the House of Representatives and read aloud during Thursday’s plenary session by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas.
In the letter, President Tinubu cited Section 58 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) as the basis for declining assent to the proposed amendment. He explained that the bill seeks to empower the NDLEA to retain a percentage of the proceeds recovered from drug-related crimes for its internal operations.
However, the President argued that such a provision contravenes existing legal frameworks that mandate all proceeds of crime be paid into a central government account.
He emphasized that the constitution vests the power to authorize any withdrawal from such an account solely in the President, subject to the approval of the National Assembly.
This process, he noted, is designed to uphold the principles of transparency, accountability, and the checks and balances between the Executive and the Legislature.
Meanwhile, in another development during the plenary, a member of the Labour Party representing Enugu State, Hon. Sam Atu, formally announced his defection to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). His resignation from the Labour Party was communicated in a letter also read by the Speaker on the floor of the House.
Hon. Atu cited the protracted leadership crisis rocking the Labour Party at both the state and national levels as the main reason behind his decision to quit. He revealed that his move to the APC came after extensive consultations with his constituents and political stakeholders, who supported the decision in light of the party’s inability to provide effective representation due to internal disunity.
He further stated that his defection was also inspired by President Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope Agenda,” which he believes has shown strong commitment to the development of the South East region. He specifically referenced the recent creation of the South East Development Commission as a commendable initiative aligned with the aspirations of his constituents.
However, the Minority Whip of the House, Hon. Ali Isa JC, raised a constitutional objection to Atu’s defection. He called on the Speaker to declare the lawmaker’s seat vacant, citing a violation of Section 68(1)(g) of the 1999 Constitution, which prohibits elected members from defecting to another political party unless there is a division within their original party.
The House did not immediately act on the Minority Whip’s request, leaving the matter open for further legislative review.