Government Chemist Department is mandated to carry out the following functions:

Provision of forensic science services for the criminal justice system.
Provision of analytical Laboratory services for food safety and Public health safety.
Provision of scientific crime scene support services to the law enforcement agencies.
Provision of technical reports and expert evidence in courts of law for the administration of justice;
Provide investigators in corruption cases with treatment chemicals and analysis of evidential materials obtained thereafter.
Undertaking research, surveys and field tests in forensic science and Chemical matters of national importance;
Participation in technical committees on standards, scientific boards, curriculum development, formulation and reviews of scientific policies;
Undertaking research, surveys and investigations in forensic science and cases of national importance such as; Corruption cases, drugs of abuse and new psychoactive substances, fire incidents and Methanol poisoning in alcoholic drinks
Participate in Mass fatality investigations during terrorism attacks and other disasters eg victim identification.
Implementation/domestication of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) in the country as the National Focal Point.
Coordinate matters related to chemicals under the Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) risk mitigation initiative.
Capacity building to stakeholders in scientific matters.
training of investigating officers on managing forensic evidential material from crime scenes.