December 23, (THEWILL) — The Federal Government has approved mandatory pre-employment drug testing for all applicants seeking employment in the Nigerian public service.
This move is part of 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 by Segun Imohiosen, the Director of Information and Public Relations in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF).
In a statement, Imohiosen said the decision was contained in a service-wide circular issued by the SGF and addressed to all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), including extra-ministerial departments and parastatals.
The circular mandates Permanent Secretaries and heads of agencies 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 been directed to collaborate closely with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to conduct the tests in line with approved standards and procedures.
THEWILL reports that the Federal Government introduced the policy against the backdrop of growing concern over the rising incidence of drug and substance abuse, particularly among young Nigerians seeking employment in the public sector.
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 noted.
Imohiosen explained that substance abuse poses serious threats to public health, socio-economic development, institutional efficiency, and national security.
He added that the new requirement is designed to safeguard the integrity of the public service and ensure a disciplined, productive, and credible national workforce.
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