The Federal Government has approved the introduction of mandatory pre-employment drug testing for all prospective applicants into Nigeria’s Public Service.
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.
According to the statement, the policy is part of the Federal Government’s broader efforts to curb the rising abuse of illicit drugs and address its negative effects on national development, workplace productivity, public health, and security.
As a result, Permanent Secretaries and Heads of Extra-Ministerial Departments and Parastatals have been directed to make drug testing a compulsory requirement in the recruitment of new personnel across Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).
“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,” the statement read.
Imohiosen added that MDAs have also been instructed to collaborate with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in conducting the tests, in line with established standards and procedures.
The government noted that the policy was informed by growing concerns over the increasing rate of drug and substance abuse, particularly among young people, and its far-reaching implications for national security and socio-economic development.
The initiative forms part of a series of anti-drug measures introduced in 2025. In November, the Nigeria Customs Service mandated drug testing for all incoming recruits and serving officers, while a July directive approved drug screening across universities nationwide.
The Federal Government says the new policy underscores the determination of the current administration to build a disciplined, productive, and drug-free public service.
