NDLEA Says Interior Ministry Job Seekers Exempted From ₦7,500 Drug Test Fee

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has exempted applicants seeking recruitment into four agencies under the Ministry of Interior from paying the ₦7,500 drug test fee, saying the ministry has already made bulk payment to cover the exercise.

The exemption applies to candidates undergoing the mandatory Drug Integrity Test (DIT) as part of the recruitment process into the Nigerian Correctional Service, Nigeria Immigration Service, Federal Fire Service and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

The agency, in a statement issued on Friday by its Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, said arrangements had been concluded for the exercise, stressing that no candidate or personnel participating in the process was required to make any payment.

It consequently warned applicants against making payments to NDLEA officials, designated testing centres or through any other payment channel in connection with the exercise.

The clarification followed public concerns over the ₦7,500 drug test fee displayed on the agency’s Drug Integrity Test portal.

Babafemi explained that the Ministry of Interior had made a bulk payment to cover the testing of its new intakes, meaning candidates recruited into the four agencies would not bear the cost of the exercise.

He said applicants would, however, be required to access the NDLEA Drug Integrity Test portal through designated links or access points to be provided on the respective institutional recruitment portals.

According to him, the arrangement would enable candidates to register on the NDLEA platform, complete the necessary documentation and proceed to the testing centres without making additional payments.

The agency urged applicants and participating institutions to comply with the guidelines to ensure a smooth and orderly exercise.

NDLEA said the arrangement was part of efforts to guarantee a transparent and efficient implementation of the mandatory drug integrity screening during the recruitment process.

It would be noted that the statutory amount is set aside for testing kits and not a charge for the screening service.

While speaking with LEADERSHIP earlier ,  Babafemi explained that the drug testing service remained free for Nigerians, but individuals requiring the test were expected to pay the statutory ₦7,500 for the testing kits.

He said the payment requirement had been in place since the commencement of the agency’s drug testing programme.

Babafemi explained that the requirement applies to Nigerians seeking drug tests for various purposes, including international travel, marriage, school admission and employment.

The clarification comes amid growing concerns among candidates who have reached the oral interview stage of the recruitment exercise into four paramilitary agencies.

The controversy followed an earlier assurance by the Secretary of the Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire and Immigration Services Board (CDCFIB), Major General Abdulmalik Jibril (retd.), that candidates would not be required to pay for the mandatory drug screening.

Jibril had given the assurance during a briefing in Abuja last week, where he announced that successful candidates would undergo drug screening conducted by the NDLEA before collecting their appointment letters.

He had specifically stated that the federal government would bear the cost of the exercise, insisting that candidates would not be charged.

“Candidates are not to pay anything. They are only to report to NDLEA where they will submit their sample and the result will be given to them instantly,” he said.

When asked whether the exercise would be entirely free, the board secretary reiterated that no candidate would be required to make any payment.

“That means it is free. So no candidate will be charged. If any candidate reports and is asked to give money, let him report to the nearest security agency’s office,” Jibril added.

However, applicants subsequently reported being directed to pay ₦7,500, an amount displayed on the NDLEA’s drug and visa screening portal under the description “Drug Test”.

One of the applicants, Abdallah Muhammad, from Kano State, had expressed disappointment over the development, arguing that candidates were earlier assured that the government would foot the bill. See here

Muhammad questioned the financial implications of the payment, particularly if all the 30,000 candidates expected in the first phase of the recruitment exercise were required to pay.

He appealed to the Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, to intervene and ensure that applicants were not made to bear the cost.