• The constable recruitment crisis has brought to a head the need for the Presidency and National Assembly to step in and address the recurring clashes between the Police Service Commission and Nigerian Police Force, defining once and for all their respective powers and responsibilities
The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and the Police Service Commission (PSC) have been embroiled in a long-standing feud, particularly during recruitment processes. The crisis began in 2019 when former Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Mohammed Adamu assumed control of recruitment, contrary to the Supreme Court’s ruling that it was the PSC’s constitutional mandate.
Despite court orders, the police proceeded with the 2019 and 2020 recruitment exercises. The PSC, led by retired IGP Musiliu Smith, faced internal strife, including a three-day strike by workers demanding the restoration of the commission’s recruitment powers, staff promotion, and annual training. In July 2023, the Supreme Court reaffirmed the PSC’s sole responsibility for recruiting constables for the NPF. A source revealed that N18 billion was budgeted for the recruitment of 40,000 constables over four years, approved by former President Muhammadu Buhari. The Constitution (Third Schedule, Part 1, Paragraph 30) empowers the PSC to appoint persons to offices in the NPF, excluding the IGP position.
Further investigation revealed that the Police Act 2020, signed by former President Buhari, also empowers the Police Service Commission (PSC) to recruit police officers. However, the crisis escalated in 2021 when the Court of Appeal declared parts of the Police Act 2020 unconstitutional, nullifying the NPF’s powers to appoint, promote and discipline police officers. The court’s perpetual injunction restrains the NPF and IGP from interfering with the PSC’s constitutional functions, including recruitment, promotion and discipline. Currently, the PSC has the sole authority to recruit, discipline, and promote all police cadres, except the Inspector General of Police. Despite his role as Chairman of the Police Council, Buhari failed to address the crisis, allowing the NPF and PSC to undermine each other. The new IGP, Kayode Egbetokun, recently visited former PSC Chairman Solomon Arase, a retired IGP, to end the acrimonious relationship affecting national security.
Insiders are of the opinion that the National Assembly should review relevant statutes to eliminate contentions and ensure effective policing. Surprisingly, on June 15, the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, alleged irregularities and corruption in the recruitment process after the successful candidates were announced. The power struggle between the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and the Police Service Commission (PSC) continues, putting the recruitment process in limbo. The NPF has raised concerns over the PSC’s published list of successful candidates, alleging irregularities and corruption.
According to the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the list was scrutinised after receiving complaints from candidates about corrupt practices. The NPF discovered that some candidates who failed the computer-based test or physical screening exercise were included in the list. Additionally, some individuals disqualified due to medical issues were also included. Adejobi stated that the most concerning issue is the alleged financial dealings and corrupt practices that led to the selection of unqualified and untrainable individuals. The Inspector-General of Police, Egbetokun, had written to the PSC Chairman, objecting to the list and highlighting the discoveries. While the IGP acknowledged the PSC’s power to recruit, he emphasised that this power does not extend to recruiting unqualified individuals. The NPF spoke out after receiving numerous complaints from candidates and stakeholders about the irregularities in the exercise. Upon reviewing the list, the police found names of “successful candidates” who did not even apply or participate in the recruitment process.
His words: “The published list contains several names of candidates who failed either the Computer Based Test (CBT) or the physical screening exercise or both. There are those who made it to the last stage of the exercise but were disqualified, having been found medically unfit through the standardized medical test, but who also made the list of successful candidates as published by the PSC. Most worrisome is the allegation of financial dealings and corrupt practices leading to the outcome where unqualified and un-trainable individuals have been shortlisted.”
Egbetokun had on June 10, 2024 written a letter of objection on the list addressed to the Chairman of the Commission, citing the discoveries. Adejobi said the reaction of the IGP was without prejudice to the power of the Commission to recruit for the police as confirmed by the Supreme Court in a case between the two sides. He added that it is the police that bear the brunt of recruitment of unqualified individuals and not the PSC. “The same people who recruited anyhow for the police today will turn round to accuse the police tomorrow of inefficiency when their recruits start messing up,” he said.
The police, according to him, have dissociated themselves from the published list and called for a review that will be transparent and credible. He said: “The Nigeria Police Force therefore takes exception to this unpleasant development and calls for a total review of the process with a view to recruiting qualified, competent, trainable and productive hands into the Nigeria Police Force, in line with the vision of His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s led administration on police reform. The NPF hereby reiterates that we are not unconcerned about the plights and ordeals of prospective recruits who have been subjected to all forms of rigorous screening exercise, assuring that it is our commitment to ensure that the process is thoroughly reviewed, stands fruitful and successful for the betterment of the Nigeria Police, and by extension the country.”
The Joint Union Congress (JUC) of the Police Service Commission (PSC) quickly responded to the police allegations, stating that the recruitment process followed due process. In a statement signed by Ogundeji Remi and Adoyi Adoyi on behalf of JUC, the PSC accused the police of attempting to prevent the commission from exercising its constitutional power to appoint police officers, despite the clear provisions of the 1999 Constitution and the Supreme Court’s interpretation of those powers.
“This clandestine scheming by the Inspector General of Police to usurp such powers is obviously an affront on both the Nigerian Constitution and judgment of the Supreme Court,” the JUC said. Continuing, it said: “The Commission is at a loss why it is only during recruitment exercises that police confrontation manifests, suggesting obvious hidden interests and corrupt tendencies. To address the issues raised by the FPRO in the above release, it is worthy of note that after the Commission got judgement from the Supreme Court on the 11th of July, 2023 re-affirming its powers to, amongst other things, appoint qualified Nigerians into the Police Force as stipulated in the paragraph 30 Part 1 of the Third Schedule of the Nigerian Constitution thus: The Commission shall have power to (a) appoint persons to offices (other than the office of the Inspector-General of Police) in the Nigeria Police Force; the Commission to ensure inclusiveness constituted a Recruitment Board comprising of a Commissioner from the Police Service (PSC) as Chairman, Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Development and Training Department as Co-Chairman/Deputy Chairman, CP Hassan Yabanet representing Police Training Colleges (NPF), Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Olabode Akinbamilowo as Secretary to the Board amongst others.
“The Board had representatives from virtually all the stakeholders in the Police Sector such as The Commission, the Police, Ministry of Police Affairs, Federal Character Commission, the Police Colleges and the Police Trust Fund. 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. The same Board met and endorsed the list that was released on the 4th of June, 2024 at their usual meeting point, PSC Corporate Headquarters, with the DIG Training, Mr Frank Mba and other Police representatives in attendance.”
President Tinubu recently appointed retired Deputy Inspector General of Police, Hashim Argungu, as the new chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC), replacing retired IG Solomon Arase. IGP Kayode Egbetokun addressed senior police officers in Abuja, clarifying the recruitment process and denying reports of a disagreement between the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) and the Police Service Commission (PSC). He emphasised the need for quality recruitment, stating that some listed candidates were untrainable or had disabilities. He cited a Supreme Court verdict, which he said did not exclude the NPF from the recruitment process. Egbetokun also clarified that the police support the recruitment of Persons Living with Disabilities (PLWD) and plan to accommodate them in future recruitment exercises.
He said: “The judgment of the Supreme Court is sound and clear. I don’t have issues with it. The court did not exclude the police from participating in the recruitment process into the Police Force. It is expected that while recruiting into the police force, the commission should carry the Police along. The IGP leads the largest police force in Africa. Over 300, 000 police officers look up to him for guidance and leadership. He cannot sit down and see how the recruitment exercise is carried out anyhow. The IGP has a duty to ensure quality recruitment into the Police Force. And that is exactly what we are doing.
“If we don’t pay attention to the recruitment, a disaster awaits us. That is why we are raising issues where there are issues. We have written to the PSC over the published names of the successful candidates. So, there is no fight between the police and PSC. The police will play their roles, the PSC will play its roles. We cannot allow individuals with bad eyesight. We cannot afford to recruit the deaf and dump them on the police. Don’t get me wrong, they are human beings. For now, the Nigerian Police Force does not have space for them. Maybe later in the future, we will start…… because modern policing is inclusive. By then we will have space for them so that they will come and function well in the police.
“We do not want to recruit people who will come and commit suicide in the police. Police jobs are too sensitive; So, we have to be very careful. Anybody can call for my removal. Anybody who doesn’t like me can come out tomorrow and say remove the IGP; that is not a problem. We are all entitled to our opinions.”
The Police Service Commission (PSC) has responded to the allegations made by the IGP Egbetokun, regarding irregularities and corruption in the recruitment of 10,000 constables. The PSC has asked the IGP to provide verifiable evidence to support his claims, stating that the recruitment exercise followed due process and all successful candidates were certified fit for the job. The PSC also suggested subjecting both lists of successful candidates to a forensic audit using the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) Computer Based Test (CBT) results. Ani said: “That the release of the confidential letter sent to the Chairman of the Commission by the Inspector General of Police on alleged lapses in the recruitment exercise to the media was a gross violation of the Public Service Rules with grave consequences. The Commission demands that the Police should provide verifiable evidence to prove the allegations peddled against it as it is obvious that it is a case of giving the dog a bad name in order to hang it.”
The commission condemned the leak of a confidential letter sent to the Chairman by the IGP, calling it a violation of Public Service Rules with grave consequences. Stakeholders are urging President Tinubu and the National Assembly to intervene in the situation to prevent further escalation.
