The Nigerian government, under President Bola Tinubu, has approved mandatory pre-employment drug testing for all prospective recruits into the Nigerian Public Service, in a move aimed at tackling the rising challenge of drug and substance abuse across the country.
The directive was communicated through a service-wide circular issued by the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) to all Ministries, Departments, Agencies (MDAs), and extra-ministerial departments on Monday, December 22, 2025.
The circular instructs Permanent Secretaries and Heads of Parastatals to make drug testing a core part of the recruitment process for new personnel.
It further mandates that MDAs collaborate with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to conduct the tests in accordance with established procedures and standards.
“The directive introducing mandatory pre-employment drug testing for prospective applicants stems from the Federal Government’s concern over the alarming rate of drug and substance abuse, especially among the country’s youth, and its far-reaching effects on public health, socio-economic development, workplace efficiency, and national security,” the circular stated.
According to the government, the move underscores the administration’s commitment to proactively addressing drug abuse and mitigating its adverse impacts on Nigeria’s development and national progress.
