The Federal Government has approved mandatory pre-employment drug testing for all applicants seeking jobs in the Nigerian public service, in a decisive move to curb substance abuse and boost workplace productivity.
The directive was announced on Monday in Abuja by the Director of Information and Public Relations in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr Segun Imohiosen, through an official statement.
According to the statement, the policy is contained in a service-wide circular issued by the SGF and addressed to Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), including extra-ministerial departments and parastatals.
Imohiosen said the circular directs Permanent Secretaries and heads of extra-ministerial departments to ensure that drug testing becomes a compulsory requirement in the recruitment of new personnel across the public service.
He added that MDAs have also been instructed to collaborate with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to conduct the tests in line with established standards and procedures.
The government explained that the decision was informed by growing concern over the alarming rate of drug abuse, particularly among young Nigerians, and its far-reaching consequences for public health, socio-economic development, workplace efficiency and national security.
“The introduction of mandatory drug testing is part of ongoing efforts to curb the rising incidence of illicit drug use and its adverse effects on national development, security and workplace productivity,” the statement read.
Imohiosen noted that the new measure aligns with the commitment of the current administration to decisively tackle drug and substance abuse and safeguard the integrity of the national workforce.
The policy is expected to take immediate effect and apply to all federal public service recruitments nationwide.
(NAN)
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