The Federal Government has approved the introduction of mandatory pre-employment drug testing for all prospective applicants into Nigeria’s Public Service, as part of renewed efforts to curb drug abuse and strengthen workplace integrity.
The directive was contained in a statement issued from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), mandating all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), including extra-ministerial departments and parastatals, to include drug testing as a compulsory requirement in recruitment processes.
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According to the statement, Permanent Secretaries and Heads of MDAs are to ensure strict compliance with the new policy, while collaborating with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to conduct the tests in line with approved standards and procedures.
The Federal Government said the policy aligns with the current administration’s commitment to decisively address the growing challenge of drug and substance abuse in the country, particularly among young people, and to protect the public service from unwholesome practices.
The government expressed concern over what it described as alarming drug abuse trends, noting their far-reaching implications for public health, workplace productivity, socio-economic development, and national security.
It stated that insulating the public workforce from illicit drug use is critical to building a disciplined, efficient, and accountable public service capable of delivering on national development goals.
The new policy takes immediate effect and applies to all future recruitment exercises across federal MDAs.
