Civil servants must pass mandatory drug test before appointment – FG

The Federal Government has approved mandatory drug testing for Nigerians seeking employment into the Public Service.

This means prospective civil servants will now be required to undergo drug tests before they can be recruited into ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs).

The approval was confirmed 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 decision is part of efforts to curb the rising abuse of illicit drugs and protect national development and security.

Permanent Secretaries and Heads of Extra-Ministerial Departments and Parastatals have been directed to make drug testing a compulsory requirement during recruitment exercises.

“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 read.

It added that all Ministries, Departments and Agencies are to work with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to carry out the tests in line with approved standards and procedures.

Imohiosen said the directive was issued through a service-wide circular and reflects the current administration’s determination to tackle drug and substance abuse in the country.

He noted that the policy was driven by concerns over the growing rate of drug abuse, especially among youths, and its negative effects on public health, productivity and national security.

The move follows similar anti-drug measures introduced in 2025. In November, the Nigeria Customs Service ordered drug tests for all new recruits and serving officers, while a July directive approved drug screening across universities nationwide.