President Tinubu Sends NDLEA Overhaul Bill, Two Others To Senate For Approval

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has transmitted three major bills to the Senate for consideration, including proposed legislation to completely overhaul the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, reposition the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau as a multimodal authority, and establish a National School of Government.

The bills were conveyed in separate letters addressed to Senate President Godswill Akpabio and read during Tuesday’s plenary in Abuja, pursuant to Section 58(2) of the 1999 Constitution as amended.

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Bill 2026 seeks to repeal the existing NDLEA Act and the Indian Hemp Act, establishing a consolidated legal framework for combating drug-related offences.

According to the President’s letter, the bill is designed to “strengthen enforcement against the cultivation, processing, sale, trafficking and use of illicit drugs, while empowering the agency to investigate persons suspected of involvement in drug-related activities”.

“The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Bill 2026 seeks to repeal the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act, Cap. N30, and the Indian Hemp Act, Cap. I16, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, and to enact a consolidated framework to enforce the law against the cultivation, processing, sale, trafficking and use of hard drugs,” the letter stated.

Tinubu urged the Senate to give the proposed legislation expeditious consideration, stating, “While looking forward to the usual expeditious consideration of this submission, please accept, Distinguished Senate President and Distinguished Senators, the assurances of my highest consideration”.

The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau Amendment Bill 2026 seeks to amend the NSIB Establishment Act No. 35 of 2022 to reposition the bureau as an independent, multimodal safety investigation authority.

Under the proposed changes, the bureau’s mandate would extend beyond aviation accidents to cover occurrences involving rail, maritime and other modes of transportation. The bill also seeks to transfer supervisory oversight of the bureau to the Presidency and strengthen its institutional, operational and administrative powers.

The National School of Government Bill 2026 seeks to repeal the Administrative Staff College of Nigeria Act and establish a new institution to serve as a national centre for leadership development, policy delivery and executive capacity-building.

Following their presentation, Akpabio referred the bills to the Senate Committee on Rules and Business for further legislative action.