Nigeria’s Senate has commenced efforts to ensure the implementation of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directive approving the refund of unauthorised deductions from the internally generated revenue (IGR) of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), amid concerns over prolonged delays.
The move follows revelations by NAFDAC Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, that although President Tinubu approved the refund in August 2025, the agency has yet to receive the official implementation letter required to release the funds.
Adeyeye made the disclosure during an engagement with lawmakers, warning that the continued delay has placed significant financial pressure on the regulatory agency, whose operations are critical to safeguarding public health, combating counterfeit medicines, and strengthening food and drug safety across the country.
Lawmakers expressed concern over the bureaucratic bottlenecks delaying the execution of the presidential directive, stressing that once an approval has been granted by the President, relevant government institutions should ensure its timely implementation.
The Senate subsequently resolved to intervene by engaging the appropriate authorities to expedite the issuance of the implementation letter, describing the delay as unnecessary and capable of undermining NAFDAC’s operational efficiency.
The development comes as the upper legislative chamber intensifies oversight of government agencies to ensure compliance with executive directives and improve accountability in public financial administration.
If implemented, the refund is expected to bolster NAFDAC’s financial capacity, enabling the agency to expand regulatory enforcement, enhance laboratory infrastructure, strengthen surveillance against counterfeit products, and improve the delivery of essential public health services nationwide.
