Muntaka pushes mandatory drug tests for public-sector recruits

The government is considering making drug testing mandatory for individuals seeking employment within the public sector. Minister for the Interior, Mohammed Muntaka, has revealed that his Ministry is preparing an Information Paper for Cabinet presentation, outlining this new policy. This policy is being considered in light of the recent security services recruitment exercise, which disqualified more than 6,000 applicants following drug testing and mental health assessments.

Muntaka emphasized the need for stringent screening before individuals are admitted into public service, stating that "very soon, the Ministry of the Interior will be taking an Information Paper to Cabinet, and one of the things that we are going to do is to ensure that nobody gets into public service until we do a drug test on you."

The Minister also expressed concern about the spread of drug use among secondary school students, particularly the distribution of substances such as tramadol. He urged school authorities to intensify supervision and discourage students from succumbing to peer pressure. Muntaka, who grew up in poverty, urged students not to let their current circumstances define their future, emphasizing the importance of resilience and hard work in overcoming adversity.