Writing by Bello Wakili;Editing by Abubakar Hamza.
Federal Government has approved the introduction of mandatory pre-employment drug testing for all prospective applicants into the Public Service, as part of efforts to curb illicit drug use and strengthen national development and security.
The approval was contained in a service-wide circular issued to Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), including extra-ministerial departments, in a statement signed by the Director of Information and Public Relations in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF), Segun Imohiosen.
According to the Circular, Permanent Secretaries and Heads of extra-ministerial departments and parastatals have been directed to make drug testing a core requirement in the recruitment of new personnel.
Ministries Departments and Agencies are also to collaborate with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in the conduct of the tests, in line with established standards and procedures.
The Federal Government said the directive aligns 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 move is premised on concerns over the alarming rate of drug and substance abuse in the country, particularly among young people, with far-reaching implications for public health, socio-economic development, workplace productivity and national security.
Bello Wakili
