The Federal Government has given the approval for compulsory drug screening to become a prerequisite for employment into Nigeria’s Public Service, in a move aimed at curbing substance abuse and strengthening national security.
This was disclosed 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, Segun Imohiosen, who said the policy is part of broader efforts to confront the growing challenge of illicit drug use and its negative effects on governance and development.
According to the statement, Permanent Secretaries as well as heads of extra-ministerial departments and parastatals have been instructed to ensure that drug testing is fully integrated into recruitment processes for new employees.
“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.”
Imohiosen further explained that all Ministries, Departments and Agencies are expected to work closely with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency to carry out the screenings in line with approved guidelines and professional standards.
“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,” he said.
He noted that the policy decision was driven by increasing concerns over the prevalence of drug abuse, especially among young people across the country.
“The directive on 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 far-reaching implications for public health, socio-economic development, workplace productivity, and national security,” the statement added.
The new policy follows a series of anti-drug initiatives rolled out in 2025, reflecting a coordinated national response to substance abuse.
In November, the Nigeria Customs Service introduced compulsory drug testing for both new recruits and serving officers as part of measures to strengthen discipline and border control.
Earlier in July, the Federal Government also approved a directive for drug screening across universities, underscoring a nationwide effort to address drug and substance abuse.
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