TINUBU TRANSMITS EXECUTIVE BILLS TO REFORM NDLEA, EXPAND NSIB, REPLACE ASCON
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By ‘Sefiu Ajape
President Bola Tinubu has transmitted three executive bills to the House of Representatives, seeking reforms to drug law enforcement, an expanded mandate for the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau and the establishment of a National School of Government.
The bills, dated October 12, 2026, were conveyed in three separate letters read by the Speaker of the House, Tajudeen Abbas, during plenary on Thursday.
The letters, marked “Restricted,” were received by the Office of the Speaker on October 13.
Tinubu said the bills were forwarded pursuant to Section 58(2) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, and urged lawmakers to give them “expeditious consideration.”
The proposals cover the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau and the establishment of a National School of Government to replace the Administrative Staff College of Nigeria.
NDLEA BILL SEEKS CONSOLIDATED DRUG LAW
The NDLEA Bill, 2026, seeks to repeal the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act, Cap N30, and the Indian Hemp Act, Cap 16, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, replacing them with a consolidated legal framework for drug law enforcement.
In his letter, Tinubu said the bill “seeks to repeal the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act, Cap N30 and the Indian Hemp Act, Cap 16” and “enact a consolidated framework to enforce the law against the cultivation, processing, sale, trafficking, and use of hard drugs.”
He added that the proposed law would “empower the Agency to investigate persons suspected to have dealings in drugs.”
The bill is expected to bring provisions currently contained in separate laws under a single legal instrument, providing a unified statutory framework for the agency’s operations.
The NDLEA is responsible for combating illicit drug production and trafficking, investigating drug-related offences and enforcing relevant laws. Its operations also include efforts to curb the distribution of controlled substances and dismantle drug trafficking networks.
The proposed legislation will undergo legislative scrutiny before any changes to the existing legal framework can take effect.
NSIB BILL PROPOSES MULTIMODAL SAFETY INVESTIGATIONS
The NSIB Bill, 2026, seeks to amend the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (Establishment) Act, No. 35 of 2022, to expand the agency’s responsibilities beyond aviation accidents and incidents.
Under the proposal, the bureau would become an independent, multimodal safety investigation authority covering rail, maritime, and other transport occurrences.
Tinubu said the amendment aims “to reposition the Bureau as an independent multimodal safety investigation authority, expand its mandate beyond aviation to encompass rail, maritime and other transport occurrences, transfer supervisory oversight to the Presidency, and strengthen its institutional, operational, and administrative mandates.”
The proposed expansion would give the bureau a broader role in investigating accidents and incidents across different modes of transportation.
Established under the 2022 Act, the NSIB is responsible for investigating accidents and incidents, identifying their causes and making safety recommendations to prevent future occurrences.
Extending its mandate to rail and maritime transport would bring investigations in those sectors within the bureau’s statutory responsibilities, subject to the provisions of the proposed amendment.
The proposed transfer of supervisory oversight to the Presidency would also alter the bureau’s institutional arrangements.
NATIONAL SCHOOL OF GOVERNMENT TO REPLACE ASCON
The third proposal, the National School of Government Bill, 2026, seeks to repeal the Administrative Staff College of Nigeria Act, Cap A4, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, and establish the National School of Government, Nigeria.
According to Tinubu, the bill would “enact the National School of Government Act to establish the National School of Government, Nigeria, as a national institution for leadership, development, policy delivery and executive capacity building.”
The proposed institution would focus on leadership development, strengthening the capacity of public officials and improving policy implementation across government.
ASCON was established to provide management training, research, and consultancy services for public- and private-sector organisations. It has played a role in developing the skills of administrators and managers.
The proposed replacement signals a move towards a broader institutional framework for leadership training and executive capacity development within the public service.
If enacted, the new law would provide the statutory basis for the National School of Government and define its functions and institutional arrangements.
The three bills will now proceed through the House of Representatives’ legislative process, including consideration by relevant committees.
Their transmission to the National Assembly marks the beginning of the legislative process. The proposed changes must receive legislative approval and satisfy the constitutional requirements for enactment before they become law.
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