PSC, IG tango over police recruitment list

The Joint Union Congress of the Police Service Commission has described the allegations by the Nigeria Police Force over the recruitment exercise as diversionary.

The Police had earlier in a statement by the Force spokesperson, Muyiwa Adejobi, rejected the names of those recruited by the commission.

Adejobi added that the PSC portal was scrutinised and discovered that “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.”

However, reacting to the allegations, the union chairman, Adoyi Adoyi, said the commission was worried that the police become confrontational during recruitment exercises, saying that this “ suggests obvious hidden interests and corrupt tendencies.”

 The statement read, “The attention of the Joint Union of the Staff of the Police Service Commission has been drawn to a press release dated June 15, 2024, and signed by the FPRO, on behalf of the Inspector General of Police.

“The said press statement is not only in a bad state but diversionary. It is sad to note that despite the unambiguity in the powers of the PSC as spelt out by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the subsequent interpretation of such powers by the Supreme Court, the Nigeria Police Force will still not allow the Commission to exercise its Constitutional powers to appoint persons into the Nigeria Police Force.

“This clandestine scheme by the Inspector General of Police to usurp such powers is an affront to both the Nigerian Constitution and the judgment of the Supreme Court. The Commission is at a loss as to why it is only during recruitment exercises that Police confrontation manifests suggesting obvious hidden interests and corrupt tendencies.”

Adoyi said the PSC constituted a board that had representatives from virtually all the stakeholders in the Police Sector such as the Commission, the Police, the Ministry of Police Affairs, the Federal Character Commission, the Police Colleges and the Police Trust Fund.

Adoyi described the police’s claim that the recruitment board was not allowed to perform its duties as false.

He said, “The claim that the Recruitment Board was crippled and was not allowed to function, was no doubt a fallacy as the Board severally met before the release of the list of successful candidates.”

Adoyi added that the board which had the police DIG training, Frank Mba in attendance, met and endorsed the list rejected by the police.

Adoyi, however, called for a forensic audit of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board’s Computer-Based Test results to compare them with the list released by the Commission and verify its authenticity.

He said, “The Commission demands a forensic audit of the Joint And Matriculation Board Computer Based Test results and compare it with the list released by the Commission. We insist that the list of successful candidates as released by the Commission is open to anybody or Organisation for forensic examination to establish its authenticity.

“The Commission will not at any time involve itself in any untoward activities in the process of recruiting qualified Nigerians into the Nigeria Police Force.”

Commenting on the matter, a retired Deputy Inspector General of Police, Adedayo Adeoye said there would be another screening at the police training school, adding that those unqualified would be weeded out.

He noted that this was better than starting the recruitment process from the beginning which would come at a huge cost to the government.

Adeoye said, “When they get to the training school, they will be re-screened. The commandant has the power to do that. Anyone who is not qualified will be screened out at the training school and subsequently replaced with a suitable person. This is better than starting the recruitment afresh which will be at a huge cost to the government.”

A retired Commission of Police, Lawrence Alobi, said, “The PSC should acknowledge that the police are the ones to train, deploy, and use those recruited and if they recruit unqualified people the consequences would be grievous. The country will suffer, the force will suffer and the force will be blamed. I urge the PSC and the police to work together in harmony for the best interest of the country. There should be no competition.”