By Blessing Wika, Abuja
The Chairman, Police Service Commission Alhaji Musiliu Adeola Kunbi Smith has insisted on transparency in compliance with federal character commission in the ongoing police recruitment to give Nigeria credible, committed and citizen-based policemen who will always operate within the dictates of the law.
Musiliu Smith who made the disclosure while briefing journalists following repeated calls and inquiries from several Nigerians on the position of the Commission on the ongoing exercise specifically on whether the commission was part of the process of the ongoing completion of the 2020 recruitment.
According to him, the ongoing completion of the suspended 2020 edition was a joint decision of the Commission and that of the Nigeria Police Force and it was meant to further fast track the injection of required personnel into the force. He added that a joint committee of the Commission and that of the Nigeria Police Force met severally in the Commission and approved a timeline for the completion if the exercise.
He added that President Muhammadu Buhari had in 2018 approved the recruitment of 10,000 Nigerians annually into the constable cadre of the Nigeria Police Force for a period of six years. This is to inject needed additional personnel and to bridge the manpower gap in the force, especially with the resurgence of banditry, terrorism and kidnapping in different parts of the country and regular loss of personnel through dismissal, retirement, natural death, accident and others.
He stated that the Commission has since formulated guidelines on police recruitment which is meant to promote the creation and maintenance of a professional police workforce in Nigeria which is capable of delivering an effective and efficient service that meets the needs of the public.
He added that the Commission came on board on the 25th of July, 2018, supported by an array of experienced public servants and technocrats appointed by Mr. President as Honourable Commissioners representing the six geo-political zones of the country and experienced Permanent Secretaries. He mentioned that they have been working as a team despite daunting challenges in providing a roadmap for effective policing in Nigeria in line with the constitutional mandate.
He stated that with the completion of the aptitude tests across the country recently, successful candidates are currently undergoing medical examinations at the 17 zonal police headquarters in the country after which fit and proper 10,099 candidates will be recruited by the commission and sent to the police colleges/training schools for training.
The Commission is one of the federal executive bodies established by virtue of Section 153 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) to appoint, promote and exercise disciplinary control over all members of the Nigeria Police Force (except the Inspector General of Police).
The Chairman used the opportunity to commend the leadership of the Nigeria Police Force led by Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali Bab, for the new found progressive working relationship with the Commission.