The Federal Government has introduced mandatory drug testing as a new requirement for entry into the Nigerian public service.
The directive was issued on Monday to permanent secretaries and heads of extra-ministerial departments and parastatals, according to a statement from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF).
The statement, signed by Segun Imohiosen, Director of Information and Public Relations at the OSGF, said the new condition of service forms part of broader efforts by the government to curb drug and substance abuse, particularly among young Nigerians.
Imohiosen said the policy was informed by concerns over what he described as the “alarming rate of drug and substance abuse, particularly among the youth population.”
He warned that the trend poses serious risks to governance and society, noting that it has “far-reaching implications for public health, socio-economic development, workplace productivity, and national security.”
Under the directive, ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) are to work closely with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in conducting the tests, strictly in line with established standards and procedures.
The move means that prospective public servants will now be required to undergo and pass a drug screening test before they can be employed in government service.
The policy comes weeks after the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Adewale Adeniyi, announced a similar measure within the agency, making drug testing compulsory for both new recruits and serving officers.
Adeniyi said the initiative was designed to ensure that no recruit joins the service with substance-abuse tendencies that could undermine professionalism and security.
According to him, the policy is intended to ensure that “no recruit enters the service with substance-abuse tendencies that could compromise judgement, security responsibilities, or operational integrity.”
He added that serving officers would also be covered as the Service works towards building “a fully drug-free institution.”
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