The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency,NDLEA says it has written letter to Political Parties asking for access to conduct drug integrity test on Political Aspirants seeking political offices in the 2023 elections.
Chairman/Chief Executive of the Agency, Retired Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa said this became necessary to have men and women of noble characters in exalted offices.He said political parties should make drug integrity test a component of their screening requirements.
According to him, “for politicians, we have long advocated 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 a person that is 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 has been entrusted with”.
The NDLEA Boss said the drug test is also necessary for Government Appointees , disclosing that Kano State Government has already keyed into the integrity drug test.
Gen Marwa spoke in Abuja on Wednesday April 27,2022 while presenting awards to deserving Commands and Officers for best performances in the first quarter of 2022.
He confirmed that a letter has been ” sent this morning to the National Chairman of APC, who will be the first of the national working committee I wish to pay an advocacy visit on this issue. I recommended that drug tests be incorporated in the screening process for all those interested in running for public office; we’ll do the same to the PDP and other important parties.”
While addressing officers and men of the Agency present at the event, Gen. Marwa said the ceremony “has become part and parcel of our corporate culture. Recognizing and rewarding hard work and excellence has always been a pragmatic way of stimulating productivity and enhancing the attainment of organisational goals; making it a tradition for the Agency is our way of enshrining meritocracy in the system.
The Agency spokesman, Femi Babafemi said 56 Commands/Officers were rewarded for excellent service delivery.
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