The Federal Government has approved the introduction of mandatory pre-employment drug testing for all prospective applicants seeking employment in the public service as part of measures to combat the rising menace of illicit drug use in the country.
The directive, contained in a service-wide circular issued by the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation to Ministries, Departments and Agencies, including extra-Ministerial Departments, takes immediate effect and requires strict compliance from all public sector recruiters.
In a press statement signed by Director of Information and Public Relations, Segun Imohiosen, on Sunday, December 22, 2025, the government announced that Permanent Secretaries and Heads of Extra-Ministerial Departments and Parastatals have been directed to include mandatory drug testing as a core requirement in the recruitment of new personnel.
The statement outlined that “MDAs are to collaborate with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in the conduct of the tests, in line with established standards and procedures.”
According to the government, the policy is part of “ongoing efforts to curb the rising menace of illicit drug use and its attendant consequences on national development and security.”
The statement explained that the directive aligns with “the determination of the present Administration to decisively tackle this menace of drug and substance abuse, and insulate the national workforce from unwholesome practices.”
The government expressed concern about the scale of the drug problem in Nigeria, noting that “the alarming rate of drug and substance abuse, particularly among the teeming youth in the country” has become a disturbing trend with “far-reaching implications for public health, socio-economic development, workplace productivity, and national security.”
The new policy means that all candidates seeking employment in federal government establishments will be required to undergo and pass drug screening tests conducted in collaboration with the NDLEA before they can be offered appointments.
The mandatory drug testing requirement adds to existing pre-employment screening processes in the public service, which typically include medical examinations, verification of credentials, and security clearance checks.
The initiative reflects growing global recognition of the impact of substance abuse on workplace performance and the need for employers, particularly in the public sector, to maintain drug-free work environments.
Nigeria has witnessed an increase in drug and substance abuse in recent years, with the NDLEA regularly reporting seizures of large quantities of illicit drugs and arrests of traffickers and users across the country. Youth unemployment and other socio-economic factors have been identified as contributing to the rising drug abuse problem.
The Federal Government’s decision to make drug testing mandatory for public service entry is expected to serve as both a deterrent and a screening mechanism to ensure that only drug-free individuals are employed in government positions where they handle sensitive responsibilities and public resources.
The policy is also expected to set a standard that may influence recruitment practices in the private sector and state governments, potentially contributing to a broader national effort to reduce drug abuse and its associated social and economic costs.
Public service applicants will now need to factor in the drug testing requirement as they prepare for recruitment processes, with the NDLEA expected to play a central role in establishing testing protocols and ensuring standardization across all federal government agencies.
