FG introduces mandatory pre-employment drug testing for public service applicants
The federal government has approved the introduction of mandatory pre-employment drug testing as a requirement for prospective applicants into the public service.
The directive, contained in a service-wide circular issued by the office of the secretary to the government of the federation (OSGF), was communicated to permanent secretaries and heads of extra-ministerial departments and parastatals.
According to the circular, the policy is part of ongoing efforts to curb the rising menace of illicit drug use and its attendant consequences for national development and security.
Permanent secretaries and heads of agencies were directed to ensure that mandatory drug testing is included as a core requirement in the recruitment of new personnel across ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs).
The circular also instructed MDAs to collaborate with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in conducting the tests, in line with established standards and procedures.
The federal government said the directive aligns with the determination of the current administration to decisively tackle drug and substance abuse and insulate the national workforce from practices capable of undermining efficiency, integrity and public trust.
It noted that the policy is premised on growing concerns over the alarming rate of drug and substance abuse in the country, particularly among young people, describing the trend as disturbing and with far-reaching implications for public health, socio-economic development, workplace productivity and national security.
