The Federal Government has moved to implement action to guarantee that all Nigerian road transport workers are subject to recurring drug testing.
AFRIPOST gathered that a law to this effect is pending President Bola Tinubu’s approval.
During his speech at the third annual conversation conference on Mental Health Awareness Day in Abuja on Monday, Dr Vincent Udeze, MD/CEO of Intersect Consortium, revealed that Senator George Akume, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), had established a committee that worked extensively on the bill before sending it to President Tinubu for his signature.
He said that the significance of mental health in the workplace cannot be overstated, which is why the World Health Organization’s (WHO) theme for the year, “Mental health in the workplace,” resonates.
“Evidence suggests that one in four people will experience mental health challenges in their lifetime. If there are 300 people in this event, 75 of us will experience mental health challenges in our lifetime.
“There‘s no way of describing physically what people are facing, feeling emotional, so a lot of times, workers report it as malaria,” Udeze noted.
Udeze, who is a consultant psychiatrist, said that mental health losses are about ₦1 trillion in developed economies, given the impact.
“Evidence shows that if you look into the mental health of staff, there will be tremendous job satisfaction, morale will be high, and they will be more productive,“ he added.
The event’s chairman, Brigadier General Mohammed Buba Marwa (rtd), the chief executive of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), said earlier that despite the government’s efforts to combat youth drug use in accordance with international conventions, substance abuse in Nigeria has taken on a new dimension.
He underlined that one in four drug users in Nigeria are women and that drug use is pervasive across all demographics, irrespective of gender, race, or socioeconomic status.
“The need for drug testing policies in our workplaces cannot be overemphasised. Workplace policies, industries, transportation, and healthcare, especially those governed by safety regulations, are required by law to have drug-free workplaces.
“So it is essential to implement drug testing policies in these workplaces. Random drug testing of personnel will ensure early detection of drug use in workplaces,” Marwa stated.
The NDLEA’s CEO pushed for a culture that promotes tolerance and support, stressing that mental health is a global issue that cuts beyond biological considerations and personal identities.
Many Nigerians’ mental resilience has been affected, but it can be restored with the right support, said Engr. Ayodele Olawande, Minister of State for Youth and Development, in his speech.
“We must step up our efforts to challenge our population, and I personally pledge to put our youth’s mental health first,” he said.