Brig.Gen. Buba Marwa (Retd), Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), has urged political parties to include drug integrity tests as part of the screening requirements for aspirants seeking political office on their platforms in the 2023 elections.
Marwa made the remarks while fielding questions from journalists on Wednesday at the 2022 First Quarter Best Performing Commands Awards ceremony at the Agency’s National Headquarters in Abuja.
He stated that the anti-drug agency had been advocating for all public office holders, including political appointees, to undergo drug integrity tests before being certified fit to hold public office.
He said, “For politicians, we have long advocated and I take the opportunity again 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 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.
“For this reason, we have advocated and will continue to advocate that drug integrity test be conducted for politicians; some state governments like Kano state is already doing this.
“Not just politicians, but government appointees, and I’ve just sent a letter 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 integrity 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.”