FG Mandates Pre-Employment Drug Testing for All Public Service Applicants
The Federal Government has officially approved the introduction of mandatory pre-employment drug testing as a primary requirement for all prospective applicants into the Nigerian Public Service.
The directive, contained in a service-wide circular issued on Monday, December 22, 2025, from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF), aims to insulate the national workforce from the “rising menace” of illicit drug use.
Implementation and Inter-Agency Collaboration.
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Under the new policy, all Permanent Secretaries and Heads of Extra-Ministerial Departments and Parastatals are required to integrate drug screening into their recruitment protocols.
To ensure the integrity of the process, Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) have been directed to partner with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
The Federal Government cited the “alarming rate” of substance abuse among Nigerian youth as the primary catalyst for this policy.
Officials emphasized that the trend poses significant risks to several key national areas:
* Public Health and National Security: The far-reaching implications of addiction on the safety of the state.
* Workplace Productivity: Ensuring that new entrants into the civil service are fit for purpose and mentally sound.
* Socio-Economic Stability: Reducing the economic burden caused by drug-related issues within the public sector.
The statement, signed by Segun Imohiosen, Director of Information and Public Relations at the OSGF, reaffirms the administration’s commitment to maintaining an unwholesome and productive workforce.
By PRNigeria
