Kwara state, Nigeria: At least eight job applicants out of 1,800 shortlisted for positions in the Kwara Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM) have tested positive for banned substances, including benzodiazepine, tramadol, cotinine, marijuana and amphetamine.
According to TESCOM Chairman Bello Abubakar, these applicants will be disqualified and replaced by the next best candidates from their respective local government areas.
The commission’s decision is part of the state government’s zero-tolerance policy on drug abuse, aiming to ensure a safe and healthy environment for students. Abubakar emphasized the government’s duty of care to protect children from exposure to drug abuse.
This development comes amid a broader effort to combat substance abuse in Nigeria. A 2018 report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) estimated that 14.3 million Nigerians aged 15-64 had used psychoactive substances for non-medical purposes in the past year.
In a related development, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) recently intercepted 230,600 Tramadol tablets and arrested 106 suspects in Kano State. Regulatory agencies, such as the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN), continue to lead initiatives against medicine abuse.
By Taiwo Olatinwo/ April 14, 2025
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