The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has exempted candidates in search of recruitment into 4 businesses below the Ministry of Interior from paying the ₦7,500 drug check payment, saying the ministry has already made bulk fee to cowl the train.
The exemption applies to candidates present process the obligatory Drug Integrity Test (DIT) as a part of the recruitment course of into the Nigerian Correctional Service, Nigeria Immigration Service, Federal Fire Service and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
The company, in an announcement issued on Friday by its Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, stated preparations had been concluded for the train, stressing that no candidate or personnel collaborating within the course of was required to make any fee.
It consequently warned candidates towards making funds to NDLEA officers, designated testing centres or via some other fee channel in reference to the train.
The clarification adopted public considerations over the ₦7,500 drug check payment displayed on the company’s Drug Integrity Test portal.
Babafemi defined that the Ministry of Interior had made a bulk fee to cowl the testing of its new intakes, that means candidates recruited into the 4 businesses wouldn’t bear the price of the train.
He stated candidates would, nevertheless, be required to entry the NDLEA Drug Integrity Test portal via designated hyperlinks or entry factors to be supplied on the respective institutional recruitment portals.
According to him, the association would allow candidates to register on the NDLEA platform, full the mandatory documentation and proceed to the testing centres with out making extra funds.
The company urged candidates and collaborating establishments to adjust to the rules to make sure a easy and orderly train.
NDLEA stated the association was a part of efforts to ensure a clear and environment friendly implementation of the obligatory drug integrity screening in the course of the recruitment course of.
It could be famous that the statutory quantity is put aside for testing kits and never a cost for the screening service.
While talking with LEADERSHIP earlier , Babafemi defined that the drug testing service remained free for Nigerians, however people requiring the check have been anticipated to pay the statutory ₦7,500 for the testing kits.
He stated the fee requirement had been in place for the reason that graduation of the company’s drug testing programme.
Babafemi defined that the requirement applies to Nigerians in search of drug exams for varied functions, together with worldwide journey, marriage, faculty admission and employment.
The clarification comes amid rising considerations amongst candidates who’ve reached the oral interview stage of the recruitment train into 4 paramilitary businesses.
The controversy adopted an earlier assurance by the Secretary of the Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire and Immigration Services Board (CDCFIB), Major General Abdulmalik Jibril (retd.), that candidates wouldn’t be required to pay for the obligatory drug screening.
Jibril had given the reassurance throughout a briefing in Abuja final week, the place he introduced that profitable candidates would bear drug screening performed by the NDLEA earlier than accumulating their appointment letters.
He had particularly acknowledged that the federal authorities would bear the price of the train, insisting that candidates wouldn’t 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 stated.
When requested whether or not the train could be completely free, the board secretary reiterated that no candidate could be required to make any fee.
“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, candidates subsequently reported being directed to pay ₦7,500, an quantity displayed on the NDLEA’s drug and visa screening portal below the outline “Drug Test”.
One of the candidates, Abdallah Muhammad, from Kano State, had expressed disappointment over the event, arguing that candidates have been earlier assured that the federal government would foot the invoice. See here
Muhammad questioned the monetary implications of the fee, notably if all of the 30,000 candidates anticipated within the first section of the recruitment train have been required to pay.
He appealed to the Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, to intervene and make sure that candidates weren’t made to bear the associated fee.
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