Applicants undergoing the Federal Government’s ongoing recruitment into four paramilitary agencies have protested a N7,500 drug screening fee allegedly imposed on them, despite assurances that the exercise would be free.
The protest followed an earlier declaration by the Secretary of the Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire and Immigration Services Board, Major General Abdulmalik Jibril (retd.), that the Federal Government would bear the cost of the mandatory screening conducted by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency.
Jibril gave the assurance last week in Abuja after a board meeting, explaining that candidates who had qualified for the oral interview would undergo drug tests before receiving their appointment letters.
He had reportedly stated that applicants would not be required to make any payment, insisting that they only needed to visit designated NDLEA offices, submit their samples and obtain their results.
“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.
However, some applicants have alleged that they are now being asked to pay N7,500 for the screening, with the amount reportedly appearing on the NDLEA's drug and visa screening portal under the description, 'Drug Test'.
One of the affected applicants, Abdallah Muhammad, from Kano State, expressed disappointment over the development, arguing that candidates had been assured that the government would settle the bills.
He said, “We were told that the bills would be footed by the Federal Government, but the NDLEA is now demanding N7,500 from us. Imagine multiplying that amount by 30,000 candidates. That is a huge sum of money.”
Muhammad appealed to the Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, to intervene and ensure that applicants were not compelled to pay for a service earlier declared free.
The recruitment exercise covers the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Nigerian Correctional Service, Nigeria Immigration Service and Federal Fire Service.
The board had made NDLEA clearance a compulsory requirement for candidates who successfully reached the oral interview stage, directing them to complete the screening before collecting their appointment letters.
The first phase of the recruitment is expected to accommodate 30,000 personnel, out of the Federal Government's broader plan to recruit 120,000 officers into the four agencies.
At N7,500 per candidate, the alleged charge could generate N225m if all 30,000 applicants in the first batch are made to pay.
As of the time of filing this report, clarification was being sought from the CDCFIB and NDLEA over the reported charges and whether the payment demand had received official approval.
