A Bill seeking to make compulsory, drug testing for politicians
and security agents in the country is to be debated by the House of
Representatives.
The proposed Bill which was sponsored by the Chairman, House
Committee on Narcotic Drugs, Francis Ottah Agbo, is intended to authorize the
National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to carry out compulsory and
routine drug tests on those seeking election into public offices.
Speaking
on the Bill on Monday, Agbo stated that it will also “subject all serving and
intending security personnel as well as candidates seeking admissions into
tertiary institutions in Nigeria to mandatory checks on drugs.”
The
lawmaker, in a statement by his media aide, Andrew Agbese, said the “menace of
drug addiction has pervaded all segments of the society and only drug integrity
tests on people in critical service sectors can sanitise the system.”
“I’m
proposing a bill to empower the NDLEA to
carry out a mandatory and routine drug test on politicians seeking public
offices, top public servants, military and paramilitary officers and men, and
for youths seeking admission into higher institutions. This will check
excesses, madness in the country and sanitise the system.
“Narcotic
drug addiction is common among our people across the board; from secondary
schools to the universities; from North to South; from politicians to the civil
servants etc.
“Indeed,
Nigeria is the highest abuser of illicit drugs and cannabis is the most abused
drug in our country,” Agbo said.
He
further observed that the misbehaviour of most political office holders as well
as some crimes committed in the society is drug-induced, and added that such
situations would be avoided in the future if those involved are ascertained to
be free from illicit drugs use.
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