National Assembly Prescribes Life Jail for Drug Offenders, Traffickers 

–         Okays bill empowering RMAFC 

Sunday Aborisade in Abuja 

The National Assembly yesterday, passed an amendment to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Act.

The resolution of the Senate followed its adoption of the report of its conference committee on the amendment of the NDLEA Act. 

According to Chairman of the Senate Conference Committee that harmonised the report of both chambers, Senator Mohammed Tahir Monguno, the amendment provides for life imprisonment for drug offenders. 

The Committee recommended that: “Any person who is unlawfully involved in the storage, custody, movement, carriage or concealment of dangerous drugs or controlled substances and who, while so involved is armed with any offensive weapon or is disguised in any way, shall be guilty of an offence under this Act and liable on conviction to be sentenced to life imprisonment.”

Senators approved the recommendation when it was put to voice vote by Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin during plenary.

Also yesterday, the Senate passed, for third reading, a bill aimed at empowering the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation, and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) to monitor accruals to, and disbursements from, the Federation Account.

The proposed legislation seeks to repeal the RMAFC Act, 2004, and replace it with the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation, and Fiscal Commission Bill, 2024. 

The proposed law revised the composition and operational framework of the Commission to ensure that federal, state, and local governments receive the constitutionally mandated resources necessary to address governance and development challenges.

To enhance the Commission’s efficiency, the bill proposes additional funding, allowing RMAFC to effectively discharge its constitutional responsibilities.

The Senate passed the bill following the consideration of a report by its Committees on National Planning and Economic Affairs, Finance, and Appropriations during plenary yesterday.

The Chairman of the Committee on National Planning and Economic Affairs, Abdullahi Abubakar, emphasised the importance of the bill amidst dwindling national revenues and Nigeria’s rapidly growing population. 

He stated that the Act, last updated over two decades ago, no longer reflects the nation’s evolving economic realities.

According to him, the primary objective of this bill is to reinforce the mandate and powers of the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation, and Fiscal Commission as the constitutionally recognised body responsible for monitoring revenue generation and ensuring its equitable disbursement among the three tiers of government.

Abubakar further noted that the bill prescribes a revamped structure and operational method for the Commission, ensuring that federal, state, and local governments are adequately resourced to meet governance and developmental challenges.

“In the conduct of this onerous task the Commission requires adequate funding from the federation account, the lack of which has hitherto hampered the effective performance of its constitutional responsibilities”, he added.

He urged his colleagues to support the bill and following a voice vote, majority of senators endorsed the legislation.

The bill now awaits President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s assent to become law.