- Drug testing is now compulsory for all public service job applicants.
- MDAs must include drug tests as a core recruitment requirement.
- NDLEA will conduct screenings under approved procedures.
- Policy targets rising drug abuse, especially among Nigerian youths.
The Federal Government has introduced mandatory pre-employment drug testing for Nigerians seeking jobs in the public service, marking a major policy shift aimed at tackling the growing challenge of illicit drug use.
The approval was disclosed in a statement issued on Monday by Segun Imohiosen, Director of Information and Public Relations in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF).
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According to the statement, Permanent Secretaries and Heads of Extra-Ministerial Departments and Parastatals have been directed to ensure that drug testing becomes a core requirement in all recruitment exercises 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,” the statement said, adding that the policy is intended to curb illicit drug use and its impact on national development and security.
Imohiosen explained that MDAs have also been instructed to work closely with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to carry out the screenings in line with established standards and procedures.
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He noted that the directive, conveyed through a service-wide circular, reflects the administration’s determination to tackle drug and substance abuse decisively and shield the national workforce from harmful practices.
The government said the policy was prompted by concerns over the alarming rise in drug abuse, particularly among young Nigerians, warning that the trend poses serious risks to public health, productivity, socio-economic growth, and national security.
This latest move builds on other anti-drug measures rolled out in 2025. In November, the Nigeria Customs Service mandated drug testing for all recruits and serving officers, while a separate directive in July approved university-wide drug screening across the country.
