The Federal Government has officially approved a new policy making pre-employment drug testing mandatory and also a prerequisite for all prospective applicants into the Federal Public Service.
This policy was conveyed via a circular from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, and will take immediate effect across all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).
Permanent Secretaries and Heads of Parastatals have been instructed to integrate drug screening as a standard entry-level criterion, meaning no candidate can be hired without a clean result.
The directive is in line with the determination of the present administration to tackle the menace of drug and substance abuse and insulate the national workforce from unwholesome practices – Segun Imohiosen, Director of Information (OSGF)
All MDAs are required to partner with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to ensure that the testing processes adhere to professional medical and legal standards.
To enforce this policy, the Federal Government will leverage on the newly launched Digital Platform for Drug Testing (DITViCAS) by the NDLEA to prevent the falsification of results and to streamline the clearance process for thousands of applicants.
The first test of this policy will take place during the 2026 Public Service Recruitment Cycle.
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