Ensure Recruits Undergo Psychiatric Evaluation, Drug Test – NEC Tells Security Agencies

The National Economic Council (NEC) has called on heads of security agencies to ensure that recruits undergo psychiatric evaluations and drug tests before getting enlisted.

According to a statement issued by Laolu Akande, spokesperson to the vice-president, the call was part of resolutions reached at the end of the NEC meeting held on Friday, and presided over by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo.

The statement reads:  “NEC called on the leadership of the security agencies to ensure that persons recruited into arms-bearing security agencies undergo psychiatric evaluations and drug tests before enlistment and periodically after enlistment to ensure that the personnel are psychologically fit to carry live weapons and to identify behavioural tendencies that may require psycho-social interventions,”

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“The council urged the federal government to give priority to the general welfare of police officers and personnel of other security agencies.

“In particular, it advocated the review of pension and gratuity of retired police officers and attainment of parity of remuneration by police officers with sister security agencies.”

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The NEac also advised security agencies to “dutifully observe rules of engagement in the discharge of their functions/duties around and within the civilian populace”, and also called for “a comprehensive assessment of all police stations across the country with a view to ensuring that they are fit for purpose”