By Tolúlopé Olátúnjí
The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has raised concerns and rubbished the newly released list of successful Police personnel and constables recruited by the Police Service Commission(PSC) over alleged irregularities and corruption.
The Police hierarchy, said it is kicking against the recently released list of successful candidates by the Police Service Commission (PSC) for the ongoing 2022/23 police constable recruitment on grounds that it was fraught with corruption.
This announcement is coming against the background of numerous complaints from unsuccessful candidates and stakeholders about cases of sudden disappearance of names of those who had been screened and deemed successful up to the final stage.
In a press statement on Saturday, Force Public Relations Officer, Assistant Commissioner of Police, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi revealed that a scrutiny of the published list has uncovered several anomalies. He disclosed that “ several names of persons purported to be successful candidates are those who did not even apply and therefore did not take part in the recruitment exercise.”
Adejobi further explained that the list also included names of candidates who had failed either the Computer Based Test or the physical screening, as well as those disqualified for being medically unfit.
“Most worrisome is the allegation of financial dealings and corrupt practices leading to the outcome where unqualified and untrainable individuals have been shortlisted,” he added.
Adejobi disclosed that on June 10, 2024, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Olukayode Egbetokun had written to the Chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC) objecting to the list and citing the alleged irregularities.
The police spokesperson emphasized that while the IGP’s reaction respected the Supreme Court’s ruling on the PSC’s power to recruit for the police, this authority does not extend to recruiting unqualified and untrained individuals.
“The reaction of the IGP was without prejudice to the power of the commission to recruit for the police as ruled by the Supreme Court, but this power does not include the power to recruit unqualified and untrained individuals for the police,” Adejobi stated.
He noted that it is the police who bear the consequences of recruiting unqualified individuals, not the PSC.
“The same people who recruited anyhow for the police today will turn around to accuse the police tomorrow of inefficiency when their recruits start messing up,” Adejobi noted.
He announced that the police Force has disassociated itself from the published list and has called for a transparent and credible review of the recruitment process.
ACP Adejobi stressed that there is the need to recruit “qualified, competent, trainable, and productive hands into the Nigeria Police Force, in line with the vision of His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration on police reform.”
However, the Police Spokesman assured the public that the police are committed to ensuring the recruitment process is thoroughly reviewed and successful for the betterment of the force and the country.
