The Federal Government has approved the introduction of mandatory pre-employment drug testing for all prospective applicants into the Public Service, marking a significant step in its campaign against illicit drug use and its impact on national development and security.
The directive was announced on Monday in a statement by the Director of Information and Public Relations at the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Segun Imohiosen. He explained that Permanent Secretaries and Heads of Extra-Ministerial Departments and Parastatals have been instructed to make drug testing a compulsory requirement in the recruitment of new personnel.
According to the statement, the policy is aimed at curbing the rising menace of drug and substance abuse and preventing its negative consequences from undermining public sector efficiency and national stability. Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) have also been directed to collaborate with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to conduct the tests in line with established standards and procedures.
Imohiosen noted that the directive was issued through a service-wide circular from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation to all MDAs, including extra-ministerial departments. He stressed that the move reflects the determination of the current administration to decisively tackle drug abuse and insulate the national workforce from unwholesome practices.
The decision, he added, was informed by growing concern over the alarming rate of drug and substance abuse, particularly among young people, and its far-reaching implications for public health, socio-economic development, workplace productivity, and national security.
The new requirement builds on a series of anti-drug measures introduced in 2025. In November, the Nigeria Customs Service mandated drug testing for all incoming recruits and serving officers to strengthen discipline and border security. Earlier in July, the Federal Government approved university-wide drug screening, signalling a broader, nationwide push to confront substance abuse across key institutions.
