Kano state government in collaboration with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency have unveiled plan to conduct drug test on all aspirants in the forth coming local governments election slated for January next year.
The state Commissioner for Local Governments, Alhaji Murtala Sule Garo disclosed this while declaring open a 2 day workshop organized to create awareness among employees of the 44 local government areas about the effects of drug abuse.
Garo, who represented the state governor, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje at the event, further revealed that very soon similar drug test would be conducted on local government employees across the 44 local government of the state.
He said those found with traces of drug abuse in them would be taken to rehabilitation centre for rehabilitation.
Speaking about the rationale behind the workshop, Garo said, “Part of the reasons why we approved the conduct of this workshop is to emphasise, and enlighten our workers across the 44 local governments to be cautious of drug abuse, that’s why his Excellency approved the conduct of drug test on all employees of the 44 local governments in order for us to be drug free.
He said participants at the workshop were deliberately selected from the 44 local government areas, so that in the end they could in turn take down the message to the youths and other susceptible groups at their respective areas.
“Very soon his Excellency will also approve the conduct of the testing of all our workers across the 44 local governments. You are aware that the local government election is approaching; his Excellency has already mandated that anybody that is contesting for either counsellorship or chairmanship must go through the testing for drug at NDLEA headquarters in Kano.
The NDLEA commander, Dr Ibrahim Abdul, declared support for government’s efforts at combating drug and substance abuse which by extension helps in curbing issues of crime and criminality in the state.
