National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, has advocated mandatory drug tests for State appointees and employees.
This is even as the agency noted that it had recorded some achievements in its war against abuse of narcotic substances. The agency stated that it achieved the feat through the cooperation of sub-national agencies.
The call was contained in a statement by the agency’s spokesman, Femi Babafemi. He pointed out that some State Governments across the country have embraced NDLEA’s advocacy to make drug tests mandatory for appointees and employees.
Babafemi made this disclosure during a national television programme on Monday.
He said: “It’s an advocacy move, and that has been going on since 2021. Quite a number of State Governments are already making this a policy in their States. By ensuring that whoever goes for an elective position or whoever is appointed to the State government undergoes drug tests. That is going on.
“Like I said, it’s an advocacy move; it’s not a law. All we can do is to encourage the various stakeholders to buy into this.”
Babafemi, however, pointed out that some politicians had been prosecuted for involvement in illicit hard drugs.
He said, “In the last four years, from our record, about 65 barons, including former public office holders had been arrested. They have been prosecuted and convicted without mentioning anybody’s name to stigmatize them.”
Babafemi pointed out that some of those arrested and prosecuted by the agency had “held offices, may be at the level of the Local Government Chairmanship position.
“Even as I speak, we still have quite a number of high-profile persons who are undergoing prosecution,” he said.
According to him, beyond being a policy for political positions, employers and tertiary institutions have also embraced the drug test initiative. And it has become part of their screening process to admitting new talents.
“This is going on, not only at the level of politics or those seeking employment, but also at the level of our young ones. For those going into tertiary institutions, to ensure that they also undergo this test,” Babafemi said.
source: The Nation
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