FG mandates drug screening for all public service recruits
The Federal Government has approved compulsory pre-employment drug testing for all applicants seeking jobs in the Nigerian Public Service, in a move aimed at tackling the growing challenge of illicit drug use and protecting national development and security.
The directive was announced in a statement issued 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, and sent to News Point Nigeria. The policy is to be integrated into recruitment processes across all public service institutions.
According to the statement, Permanent Secretaries and Heads of Extra-Ministerial Departments and Parastatals have been instructed to immediately incorporate drug testing as a mandatory requirement for 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,” the statement said.
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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 work closely with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in conducting the screenings, to ensure compliance with approved standards and procedures.
He noted that the initiative reflects the current administration’s resolve to combat drug and substance abuse and shield the national workforce from practices that undermine productivity and security.
The policy, he added, was prompted by rising concerns over the increasing prevalence of drug abuse in the country, particularly among young people, and its negative impact on public health, workplace efficiency, socio-economic development and national security.
The compulsory drug testing requirement builds on other anti-drug measures introduced by the Federal Government in 2025. In November, the Nigeria Customs Service rolled out mandatory drug tests for new recruits and serving officers, while in July, the Federal Government approved university-wide drug screening as part of a broader nationwide strategy to curb substance abuse
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