The Federal Government has approved mandatory pre-employment drug testing for all applicants seeking jobs in the federal public service.
The directive was contained in a service-wide circular issued on 22 Monday, December 2025 by the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF) and addressed to Permanent Secretaries and heads of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), as well as extra-ministerial departments and parastatals.
The statement, signed by Segun Imohiosen, Director of Information and Public Relations at the OSGF, noted that the measure reflects the administration’s commitment to maintaining a drug-free, efficient and secure public service workforce.
Under the new policy, all MDAs are required to integrate drug screening into their recruitment processes in collaboration with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), in line with established testing standards.
According to the circular, the decision was prompted by concerns over the “alarming rate” of substance abuse, particularly among young Nigerians, which the government warned poses serious threats to public health, socio-economic development, workplace efficiency and national security.
The policy is also in line with the Federal Government’s broader anti-drug strategy, including recent directives mandating drug testing in universities and other critical sectors.
