The Federal Government has approved the introduction of mandatory pre-employment drug testing as a requirement for prospective applicants into the Public Service.
This move is part of ongoing efforts to curb the rising menace of illicit drug use and its attendant consequences on national development and security.
According to statement from the SGF’s office, Permanent Secretaries and Heads of Extra-Ministerial Departments/Parastatals are hereby directed to include mandatory drug testing as a core requirement in the recruitment of new personnel.
Additionally, MDAs are to collaborate with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in conducting the tests, in line with established standards and procedures.
This directive to Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), including extra-Ministerial Departments, aligns with the present Administration’s determination to decisively tackle the menace of drug and substance abuse and insulate the national workforce from unwholesome practices.
The introduction of mandatory pre-employment drug testing is premised on the concern raised by the Federal Government about the alarming rate of drug and substance abuse, particularly among the teeming youth in the country, with disturbing trends and far-reaching implications for public health, socio-economic development, workplace productivity, and national security.
