The Minister of Police Affairs, Senator Ibrahim Gaidam, has stepped in to resolve the conflict between the Police Service Commission (PSC) and the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) regarding the recruitment of constables. This comes after the NPF rejected the list of successful candidates released by the PSC, citing corruption and irregularities in the recruitment exercise.
Punch reported that, The PSC had released the list of 10,000 successful applicants for constable and specialist cadre roles in the NPF on June 4. However, the police rejected the list 11 days later, alleging that the recruitment exercise was marred by corruption and irregularities. The police spokesperson, Muyiwa Adejobi, claimed that several names of persons who did not apply or participate in the recruitment exercise were included in the list of successful candidates.
The PSC has challenged the police to provide evidence to substantiate their claims, insisting that the recruitment exercise was done in accordance with relevant laws. The commission's union has also called for the removal of the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, for misrepresenting facts on the recruitment exercise.
The Minister of Police Affairs has intervened in the matter, working to reconcile the two organizations and prevent the issue from escalating further. The ministry's spokesperson, Bolaji Kazeem, confirmed that the minister is working underground to resolve the issue between the two organizations.
The conflict between the PSC and the NPF is not new, as the two bodies have been at loggerheads over the recruitment of constables for years. The Supreme Court had previously affirmed the PSC's power to recruit constables into the NPF, but the police have continued to challenge this authority.
The PSC has maintained that due process was followed in the recruitment exercise and has called for a forensic audit to be conducted on the list of successful candidates. The commission has also insisted that its list of successful candidates should not be cancelled, as the exercise was done in accordance with relevant laws.
The police, on the other hand, have dissociated themselves from the list of successful candidates and have called for a transparent and credible review of the recruitment process. The police have also alleged that the recruitment exercise was marred by financial dealings and corrupt practices, leading to the shortlisting of unqualified and untrainable individuals.
The conflict between the PSC and the NPF has raised concerns about the transparency and credibility of the recruitment process. The minister's intervention is seen as a positive step towards resolving the issue and ensuring that the recruitment process is free and fair.