PSC Challenges Police Over Recruitment Dispute

The Police Service Commission (PSC) has issued a stern challenge to the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), demanding verifiable evidence to substantiate allegations leveled against it regarding the recent recruitment of constables.

In a statement released on Friday by Ikechukwu Ani, the Head of Press and Public Relations at the PSC, the commission expressed deep concern over what it perceives as attempts by the NPF to tarnish its reputation.

 

Ani stated, “The Commission has at every turn suffered several indignities in its attempt to perform functions provided to it by the Constitution even after the Supreme Court decided the matter in its favour.”

 

He further accused the NPF of resorting to “brute force and intimidation” and alleged inducements of media personnel to discredit the Commission.

 

“This is a serious affront to the mandate of the Commission,” Ani added.

 

The controversy stems from conflicting claims over the recruitment process.

 

 

The NPF, through its spokesperson Muyiwa Adejobi, had earlier rejected the list of recruited candidates provided by the PSC, claiming discrepancies on their portal.

 

Adejobi asserted, “Several names of persons purported to be names of successful candidates are those who did not even apply and therefore did not take part in the recruitment exercise.”

 

In response, the PSC emphasised that due process was meticulously followed throughout the recruitment exercise.

 

Ani highlighted the Supreme Court’s July 11, 2023 judgment which affirmed the Commission’s authority over recruitment, refuting assertions by the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun that the police were not excluded from the process.

 

Egbetokun, in his defense, stated that while the Supreme Court gave recruitment powers to the PSC, it did not explicitly exclude the NPF from involvement.

 

He clarified, “The judgment and even the Constitution did not give the Police any role in the recruitment of any cadre of Officers into the Police Force.”

 

The dispute escalated with accusations from both sides regarding the integrity of past recruitment exercises.

 

Ani criticised previous police-led recruitments, alleging, “It is the fraudulent Recruits they brought into the system during these exercises that are currently haunting the Nigeria Police Force.”

 

The PSC called upon President Bola Tinubu to intervene and ensure that the Commission’s mandate is respected.

 

Ani appealed, “It is the considered opinion of the Commission that the successful candidates should be allowed to proceed on training without delay.”