The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has halted the ongoing exercise of constable recruitment due to allegations of corruption and irregularities. The organisaton is verifying the claims in the spirit of fairness.
In a statement released on Saturday, NPF spokesperson Muyiwa Adéjọbí announced that the force has dissociated itself from the recent list of successful candidates published by the Police Service Commission (PSC).
Adéjọbí stated that the NPF has been “inundated with a series of complaints and allegations of corruption raised by unsuspecting candidates and stakeholders on the irregularities that marred the exercise, most especially the disappearance of the names of screened candidates who were successful to the last stage.”
Upon scrutinizing the PSC portal, Adéjọbí revealed, “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.” He further noted that the list includes individuals who “failed either the computer-based test (CBT) or the physical screening exercise or both” and even those who did not pass the medical tests.
“Most worrisome is the allegation of financial dealings and corrupt practices leading to the outcome where unqualified and untrainable individuals have been shortlisted,” the statement continued.
The release further mentioned, “The Inspector General of Police had on 10th June 2024 written a letter of objection to the list addressed to the Chairman of the Commission, citing the discoveries listed above. 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.”
Adéjọbí emphasized 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 around to accuse the police tomorrow of inefficiency when their recruits start messing up.”
The NPF has since dissociated itself from the published list and called for a review that will be “transparent and credible.”
The spokesperson reiterated the NPF’s stance, calling for a “total review of the process with a view to recruiting qualified, competent, trainable and productive hands” into the force.
In October 2023, the PSC, in conjunction with the NPF, invited applications for constabulary roles, including artisans in specialized fields. By February 2024, 171,956 applicants had been shortlisted for computer-based tests, and on June 4th, the PSC released the list of successful applicants for constable and specialist cadre roles from the 774 LGAs in the country.
Former Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase, appointed as PSC chairman, had described the selection process as rigorous to enhance the capacity and effectiveness of the NPF. However, he was removed from his position on June 10th and replaced by retired police officer Hashimu Argungu.