The Federal Government under President Bola Tinubu has approved the introduction of mandatory pre-employment drug testing for all prospective applicants into the Nigerian Public Service, in a move aimed at addressing the rising incidence of illicit drug and substance abuse in the country.

The directive was conveyed through a service-wide circular issued on Monday, December 22, 2025, by the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) to all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), including extra-ministerial departments.

Under the new policy, Permanent Secretaries and Heads of Parastatals are required to make drug testing a compulsory component of recruitment processes for new personnel.

The circular further directed MDAs to collaborate with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to conduct the tests in accordance with established standards and procedures.

According to the government, the policy is driven by growing concern over the alarming rate of drug and substance abuse, particularly among young people, and its implications for public health, socio-economic development, workplace productivity, and national security.

The circular noted that the mandatory testing initiative aligns with the Tinubu administration’s commitment to tackling drug abuse and mitigating its far-reaching consequences on national development.