FG Introduces Mandatory Pre-Employment Drug Testing for Public Service Applicants

Abuja, Nigeria — December 24, 2025

The Federal Government has approved the introduction of mandatory pre-employment drug testing as a requirement for prospective applicants into the Public Service, in a decisive move aimed at curbing the growing menace of illicit drug use and its adverse effects on national development and security.

According to a statement issued from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Permanent Secretaries and Heads of Extra-Ministerial Departments and Parastatals have been directed to incorporate mandatory drug testing as a core requirement in the recruitment of new personnel. The statement further emphasized that all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) are to collaborate with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in conducting the tests, in strict compliance with established standards and procedures.

The directive, which applies to all MDAs including extra-Ministerial Departments, aligns with the present Administration’s resolve to confront drug and substance abuse head-on and to safeguard the integrity of the national workforce. Government officials noted that the policy is designed to promote discipline, accountability, and professionalism within the Public Service.

The introduction of mandatory pre-employment drug testing is premised on the Federal Government’s concern over the alarming rate of drug and substance abuse, particularly among the nation’s teeming youth. Recent trends have raised red flags due to their far-reaching implications for public health, socio-economic development, workplace productivity, and national security.

By institutionalizing drug testing at the point of entry into public service, the Federal Government aims to deter drug abuse, promote a healthier workforce, and reinforce its broader strategy to build a productive, secure, and development-driven public sector.