PSC warns states against hijacking police recruitment slots

The Police Service Commission (PSC) has warned state governments and the federal capital territory (FCT) against hijacking the slots allocated to them in the forthcoming recruitment exercise.

Hashimu Argungu, PSC chairman, spoke in Abuja on Thursday during a stakeholders consultative meeting at the commission’s headquarters.

The stakeholders, comprising representatives of the states and FCT, met to “fine-tune preparations for an improved, transparent and credible” recruitment.

The commission will be recruiting cadet assistant superintendents of police (ASPs) and constables, but a date for the commencement of the exercise has yet to be announced.

Earlier this month, reports surfaced claiming that applications to the police force had begun, but PSC debunked them.

Addressing Thursday’s meeting, Argungu said the commission will fully work with the state governments to ensure a transparent and equitable recruitment process.

He said the PSC would stamp out collusion and the buying or selling of recruitment slots, adding that merit and fairness would not be compromised by special considerations.

“We want to stop corruption in the system and open up the exercise to promote healthy competition and equitable spread,” Argungu said.

The PSC chairman said the commission will want constructive and impactful partnerships with state governments to curb corruption in the process.

Taiwo Lakanu, commissioner representing the police, said the new management is committed to reinventing a recruitment process that will produce “the best Nigerian youths for the Nigeria Police of our dream”.

Allegations of corruption by the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) against the PSC marred last year’s recruitment exercise.

The PSC rejected the claims. Both parties later agreed to a list after “extensive deliberations.”