Police reject PSC’s recruitment list over irregularities, demand review
The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has rejected the recruitment list of ‘successful’ candidates recently released by the Police Service Commission (PSC) and demanded a thorough review of process.
The rejection is against the backdrop of alleged irregularities and corruption in the ongoing 2022/23 police constables recruitment.
The Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, who disclosed this in a statement released to newsmen on Saturday, said that several anomalies were discovered in the scrutiny of the published list.
Adejobi also disclosed that the police had dissociated themselves from the published list and demanded a transparent and credible review of the process with a view to recruiting qualified, competent, trainable and productive personnel into the Force.
This, he said, was in line with the vision of President Bola Tinubu-led administration on police reform.
The police spokesman also disclosed that the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Olukayode Egbetokun, had written to the Chairman of the Police Service Commission and objected to the list.
According to him, the objection was triggered by a torrent of complaints from unsuccessful candidates and stakeholders over the disappearance of names of those who were screened and successful up to the final stage.
“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,” the statement said.
Adejobi added that the list also contained names of candidates who had failed either the Computer Based Test or the physical screening, as well as those disqualified after they had been found 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 stated.
“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 added that the NPC would never condone recruitment of ill-qualified personnel into the Force because “it is the police that bear 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.”
He, however, assured of Police’s commitment to ensuring a thorough review of the recruitment process that could guarantee a successful result for the betterment of the force and the country.
