THE Federal Government has approved the introduction of mandatory pre-employment drug testing for all prospective applicants into the Nigerian Public Service, in a decisive move aimed at curbing the rising tide of illicit drug use and safeguarding national development and security.
The approval was announced in a statement sent to News Point Nigeria on Monday by the Director of Information and Public Relations in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF), Segun Imohiosen, who said the policy would now form a core requirement in public service recruitment processes across the country.
According to the statement, Permanent Secretaries as well as Heads of Extra-Ministerial Departments and Parastatals have been directed to immediately incorporate drug testing into their recruitment procedures for 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,” the statement read.
“Consequently, Permanent Secretaries and Heads of Extra-Ministerial Departments and Parastatals are hereby directed to include mandatory drug testing as a core requirement in the recruitment of new personnel.”
Imohiosen explained that the directive was conveyed through a service-wide circular issued by the OSGF to all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), including extra-ministerial departments.
Under the new policy, MDAs are also required to collaborate with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in conducting the drug tests, ensuring that all screenings meet established standards and follow approved procedures.
“The directive 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,” Imohiosen said.
He noted that the policy was informed by growing concerns over the alarming rate of drug and substance abuse in the country, particularly among young people, and its far-reaching consequences for public health, workplace productivity and national security.
“The introduction of mandatory pre-employment drug testing for prospective applicants is premised on the concern raised by the Federal Government over the alarming rate of drug and substance abuse, especially among the teeming youth in the country, with implications for public health, socio-economic development, workplace efficiency and national security,” the statement added.
The latest directive builds on a series of anti-drug initiatives rolled out by the Federal Government in 2025 as part of a broader national strategy to combat substance abuse.
In November, the Nigeria Customs Service introduced compulsory drug testing for all incoming recruits and serving officers to strengthen discipline and enhance border security operations.
Similarly, in July, the Federal Government approved university-wide drug screening, signalling an intensified nationwide push to address substance abuse across key sectors of society.