…Policy Targets Substance Sbuse Among Young Applicants
… MDAs To Partner NDLEA As Rule Takes Immediate Effect
Daud Olatunji
The Federal Government has approved mandatory pre-employment drug testing for all applicants seeking employment in the Nigerian public service, in a sweeping policy shift aimed at curbing substance abuse and improving productivity across government institutions.
The directive, which takes immediate effect, 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, Mr Segun Imohiosen.
In a statement, Imohiosen said the decision was contained in a service-wide circular issued by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and addressed to all Ministries, Departments and Agencies, including extra-ministerial departments and parastatals.
According to him, the circular mandates Permanent Secretaries and heads of extra-ministerial departments to ensure that drug testing becomes a compulsory requirement for the recruitment of new personnel into the federal public service.
He disclosed that MDAs have also been directed to work closely with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency to conduct the tests in line with approved standards and procedures.
The government explained that the policy was introduced against the backdrop of growing concern over the rising incidence of drug and substance abuse, particularly among young Nigerians seeking public sector employment.
“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 substance abuse poses serious threats to public health, socio-economic development, institutional efficiency and national security, adding that the new requirement was designed to safeguard the integrity of the public service.
He stressed that the measure aligns with the commitment of the current administration to decisively tackle drug and substance abuse while ensuring a disciplined, productive and credible national workforce.
The policy, the statement added, will apply to all federal public service recruitments nationwide with immediate effect.
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