Nigeria Police Force, Police Service Commission In Bitter Row Over Constables’ Recruitment

The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and the Police Service Commission (PSC) are at loggerheads over the ongoing police constable recruitment exercise.

The NPF has alleged irregularities and corruption in the process, while the PSC has denied any wrongdoing.

“The published list contains several names of candidates who failed either the Computer Based Test (CBT) or the physical screening exercise or both. We also discovered that some individuals who did not even apply for the recruitment exercise were shortlisted,” said ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, Force Public Relations Officer. “The Nigeria Police Force is committed to ensuring that the process is thoroughly reviewed, stands fruitful and successful for the betterment of the Nigeria Police, and by extension the country.”

However, the PSC has fired back, accusing the NPF of trying to usurp its powers. “The Commission demands a forensic audit of the Joint And Martriculation Board Computer Based Test results and compare it with the list released by the Commission. We insist that the list of successful candidates as released by the Commission is open to any Body or Organization for forensic examination to establish its authenticity,” said the PSC in a statement.

“The Commission is the only Executive Body charged with the responsibility, amongst others, of appointing qualified Nigerians into the Nigeria Police Force. We will not succumb to any form of blackmail and threat,” said the PSC. “Our position is clear: we will not involve ourselves in any untoward activities in the process of recruiting qualified Nigerians into the Nigeria Police Force.”

The PSC also challenged the NPF to investigate any allegations of corruption, stating that “we are very free to investigate any act of financial dealings and corrupt practices as alleged by the Force Public Relations Officer.”

In response, the NPF stated that “it is the police that bears the brunt of recruitment of unqualified individuals and not the PSC. The same people who recruited anyhow for the police today will turn round to accuse the police tomorrow of inefficiency when their recruits start messing up.”

The standoff between the two organizations has raised concerns about the transparency and credibility of the recruitment exercise. The recruitment row has sparked a heated debate about the powers of the PSC and the NPF in the recruitment process.

“The Commission has always involved other relevant Bodies, including the NPF, in the recruitment process. However, we will not be intimidated or blackmailed into compromising the recruitment process,” said the PSC.

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