The Federal Government has introduced mandatory pre-employment drug testing for prospective applicants into the Public Service.
The policy adoption was announced through a statement the Director of Information and Public Relations, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Segun Imohiosen issued on Monday.
The compulsory drug test citing the statement is another government’s efforts to arrest the growing problem of illicit drug use and its impact on national development and security.
Imohiosen revealed that Permanent Secretaries and Heads of Extra-Ministerial Departments and Parastatals have received directive to make drug testing a core requirement in the recruitment of new personnel.
“The Federal Government has approved the introduction of mandatory pre-employment drug testing as a requirement for prospective applicants into the Public Service, as part of ongoing efforts to curb the rising menace of illicit drug use and its attendant consequences on national development and security.
“Consequently, Permanent Secretaries and Heads of Extra-Ministerial Departments/Parastatals are hereby directed to include mandatory drug testing as a core requirement in the recruitment of new personnel,” the statement read in part.
It said further that Ministries, Departments, and Agencies have also been directed to collaborate with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency in conducting the tests in line with established standards and procedures.
“The directive, which was contained in a service-wide circular from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation to Ministries, Departments, and Agencies, including extra-ministerial departments, is in line with the determination of the present administration to decisively tackle the menace of drug and substance abuse and insulate the national workforce from unwholesome practices,” the statement added.
The policy as per the communication stemmed from concerns over the rising rate of drug and substance abuse, particularly among youths.
