Before elections in Nigeria, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has ordered political parties to screen aspirants for drugs.
Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd), Chairman/Chief Executive of the NDLEA, made the announcement at the 2022 First Quarter Best Performing Commands Awards ceremony in Abuja on Wednesday.
The NDLEA leader revealed that he had written to the All Progressive Congress (APC) chairman about the drug test for hopefuls. He also stated that letters would be issued to the PDP and other political parties.
What the NDLEA’s head has to say Mr Marwa stated that the NDLEA has advocated for drug tests to be included in aspirant screening and will continue to do so.
“For politicians, we have long advocated, and I take this opportunity to repeat the advocacy, that when they run for public office, it demands a lot of responsibility from the person, and we need to be certain if he’s already a drug addict/user who will spend all the money he’s given for public service to consume cocaine, and his head will not be in a stable condition to handle the affairs he’s been entrusted with,” the NDLEA boss said.
Marwa stated that the agency will continue to lobby for drug testing of lawmakers, noting that the Kano State government has already begun to do so.
“As a result, we have supported and will continue to advocate for the conduct of drug tests on politicians; certain state governments, such as Kano, are already doing so.”
Not just politicians, but government appointees, and I just submitted a letter to the APC National Chairman, who would be the first member of the national working committee I want to pay an advocacy visit to on this matter.”
“I proposed that drug testing be included in the screening process for all candidates for public office; we’ll do the same for the PDP and other key parties,” he said.
