Police commission legally empowered to recruit constables, says official

Onyemuche Nnamani, a commissioner representing the south-east in the Police Service Commission (PSC), says the commission is constitutionally backed to recruit police officers.

Recently, fresh controversy hit the recruitment of constables into the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) following the disagreement between the leadership of PSC and Usman Baba, inspector-general of police.

Last week, the police, in a statement by Muyiwa Adejobi, force spokesperson, dismissed an advertisement by PSC calling for applicants to apply as constables in the force.

Owing to NPF’s protest, PSC suspended the recruitment exercise in order to resolve all contentious issues.

Speaking on the development, Nnamani said the recruitment advertisement is in line with provisions of Part 1 of the 3rd schedule of the 1999 constitution and the judgement of the court of appeal on the recruitment of constables.

“From the above constitutional provisions and the judgment of the court of appeal, it is obvious and incontrovertible that the PSC is right and legally empowered to commence the 2022 recruitment process for constables,” NAN quoted him as saying.

“It is also worthy of note and encouraging that the advertisement has continued to receive massive response from Nigerian youths who are desirous of a career in the Nigeria Police Force.

“At the last check, over 40,000 applicants have successfully applied to be considered to serve their nation.

“Any publication that is not authorised by PSC with respect to the recruitment of constables and Cadets for the Nigeria Police is not only illegal, null and void, but will also be contemptuous of the court of appeal judgment.”