By Karen James
The Nigeria Police Force has been rocked by allegations of irregularities and corruption in the 2022/23 Police Constables Recruitment Exercise. In response to a surge of complaints and accusations from candidates and stakeholders, the force has raised the alarm over the recently released list of successful candidates, citing alarming irregularities in the process.
Upon careful scrutiny of the list published on the Police Service Commission (PSC) portal, several concerning issues came to light. Firstly, numerous names on the list belonged to individuals who never even applied for the recruitment exercise, raising serious questions about transparency and fairness. Additionally, the published list included candidates who had failed either the Computer Based Test (CBT) or the physical screening, or even both. Shockingly, candidates who were medically found unfit for duty also found their names on the successful candidates’ list, further raising doubts about the integrity of the selection process.
The Inspector General of Police took immediate action, writing a letter objecting to the list to the Chairman of the Commission on June 10th, 2024. The objection acknowledges the Commission’s power to recruit for the police, as determined by the Supreme Court. However, it emphasizes that this power does not extend to the recruitment of unqualified and untrained individuals, as such ill-advised selections burden the police force and risk compromising its efficiency.
In light of the revelations, the Nigeria Police Force has disassociated itself from the published list and calls for a comprehensive and transparent review of the recruitment process. The force emphasizes the importance of recruiting qualified, competent, trainable, and productive individuals who align with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s vision of police reform.
This scandalous development has prompted concerns about the plight of prospective recruits who have endured rigorous screening exercises. The force assures them that their concerns will not be ignored and reaffirms its commitment to thoroughly reviewing the process to ensure a fruitful and successful outcome for the betterment of the Nigeria Police and the country as a whole.
ACP OLUMUYIWA ADEJOBI, mnipr, mipra, fCAI, FORCE PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER, FOR: INSPECTOR-GENERAL OF POLICE 15th June, 2024
