2 FRIDAY , DECEMBER 22 , 2017
Vox pop
Should public officials be tested for drugs ?
• Dr Oboh Oseiwe ( A Benin-based medical practitioner )
IF it is random , without any cause for it , then it may appear that you are humiliating the person . There must be a cause for something . I know the general sentiment is that public officials cross the line many times in terms of the way they behave .
They appear abnormal by the way they steal money and their views on certain things and so people are up in arms against them . There is a general sentiment against public officials , but I am not one to be swept away by public opinion .
For someone who seems perfectly normal and you just call him at random to undergo a drug test ? I think it is a bit humiliating . There should be a basis for it . If someone has a history of drug abuse and he behaves abnormally , he should be subjected to a drug test .
Any public official that appears not normal should be subjected to such a test , but a perfectly normal official ? No ! I think it is improper and humiliating . If there is a cause , I accept it 100 per cent , but if there is no cause for it , I think it is humiliating .
• Mr . Bamidele Faparusi ( A former member of the Federal House of Representatives )
support the idea that would-be public
I officials should be subjected to drug tests . Nigeria cannot afford to have people under the influence of hard drugs in sensitive places now . We need people who are clear-headed because of the enormity think they should be subjected
I to drug tests , but there should be some criteria . You do not just subject everybody to drug tests as that would not make sense because it would look like harassment . It should be for certain offices .
It should begin from the political party level or the Independent National Electoral Commission , for someone aspiring to occupy a position . I also think that it should be enshrined in the constitution as a requirement .
There is also the need for a psychiatric evaluation . The drug tests should be done independently at some designated facilities . That way , a doctor ’ s report cannot be changed . It is for their welfare .
• Festus Keyamo ( A Senior Advocate of Nigeria )
So , let it be on a case by case basis . It can ’ t be done indiscriminately in a standard society .
of the task ahead . We cannot afford to put in office people who would use their addiction to drug to destroy important institutions .
For example , some people , who take drugs , cannot function well except they are under the influence of the drugs , while some of them will take bad decisions after taking drugs . Simply put , those on drugs cannot offer good leadership and we must stop this .
I believe it is important that public officials should be subjected to drug tests just as medical test is made compulsory for new employees by companies . This will assist us to stop drug addicts from holding sensitive positions which should be held by clear-headed persons .
We should do everything to make sure that only those who are physically , medically and mentally fit are the ones occupying public offices . We need leaders who are not influenced by drugs . This will help Nigeria to check the problem of bad leadership to some extent because leaders , who would have taken decision that would be detrimental to the interest of the people because of drugs , would have been stopped form occupying sensitive positions . So , it is good to subject public officials to drug tests .
• Dr Kunle Olawepo ( Chairman , Nigerian Medical Association , North Central zone )
IT is necessary now more than ever . It is more imperative than ever before . I remember as a young man trying to get into school , you would have to undergo tests , but when it comes to holding high positions where your decisions will affect millions of Nigerians , nobody talks about any kind of tests .
Look at the way our leaders acquire property and money . Is it not madness ? So , it is obvious that this test is necessary . It wasn ’ t even Emir Sanusi that was the first to make such a demand . The Labour Party made this demand many times and even several civil society organisations have made such demands in the past . There are some leaders who are actually mad who ordinarily should be roaming the streets but they are moving about in convoys . So , this is the best time and it should be made a law .
I call on the National Assembly and the Houses of Assembly to make sure that this drug test is codified . If our constitution says a person must have at least a school certificate before contesting an office , then why can ’ t we have a drug test as well ? In the United States , the President is made to undergo tests every year to ascertain his state of health .
The Chief of Staff to former President Barack Obama sent his certificate of
• Dr Chidia Maduekwe ( Director General , Nigerian Film Corporation )
IT should not be restricted to public office holders ; it should be extended to people who are performing certain functions at certain times . They should be subjected to this kind of tests to find out if they are acting under the influence . This will enable you know whether at the time they are performing such functions , they are doing so within the context of their normal senses
FRoM the medico-legal point of view , there is no provision for such in our laws . However , an amendment can be made to adopt screening of public officers for drug / substance use or abuse as a pre-condition for swearing-in after an election .
Mass screening of public officials without an enabling law , and if consent is not even sought and obtained from such individuals before hand , is akin to abuse of power . My take on the drug test matter based on our existing laws is that each case should be handled on individual merit .
Individuals with signs and / or symptoms of irrational behaviour suspected to be substance induced should be presented to a qualified medical doctor who is conversant with the requisite tests to carry out . The medical specialist can then make an informed diagnosis and commence appropriate treatment where need be .
It definitely would also be out of place to subject 300 ( or more ) people to unnecessary invasive tests because one or two people are suspected to be on drugs .
• Kayode Ajulo ( A former National Secretary , Labour Party )
wellness to the level of cholesterol , tobacco intake to me when I asked for it . He did it just three days after I made the request and I am not an American . But our leaders here cannot do anything , but run after money . I call on our lawmakers to do the needful and if they refuse , INEC can make it part of its own guidelines .
or whether the action they are taking is induced by substances ingested into their system , thus creating a situation of delusion that will naturally result in unintended consequences .
Having said that , there are global best practices that support testing of individuals . Even here in Nigeria , in Lagos for instance , the state came up with a template that certain behavioural tendencies of drivers cannot be excused if tests prove that such persons have mental instability . Also in the United States , when a person is arrested for driving in a manner deemed suspicious by law enforcement agents , the first thing they do after asking a few questions , is to subject the person to a standard test to see if he / she was driving under the influence of either alcohol or any mind altering substance . At the time this test is conducted , they don ’ t want to know if you are a public officer or not ; the important thing is that you are a citizen . You are a human being who is exhibiting some traits not expected of a rational human being . In conclusion , it is important that such tests should be carried out when there are reasonable grounds to suspect that something is amiss .
Compiled by : Success Nwogu , Femi Makinde , Eniola Akinkuotu , Kamarudeen Ogundele and Alexander Okere