10, 000 Police Officers: Federal Character Commission Task PSC on Recruitment.
The executive chairman of the Federal character commission, Dr. shettima Bukar Abba has charged the Nigeria police force to ensure strict application of principle of federal character of fairness, Equity and justice in the on-going police recruitment exercise Nationwide.
He gave the charge recently during a courtesy visit to his office by the Chairman Police Service Comission, Mike Okiro (IG rtd) and top echelon of the Police force to discuss the modalities for the recruitment of ten thousand police officers into the work force as directed by Mr. President.
The acting executive chairman maintained that the principle of federal character should be considered in the recruitment exercise without compromising merit.
This he said, would go a long way in making the exercise transparent and meet the yearnings and aspirations of Nigerians.
According to him, “adhering to basic standards will make the process easy and credible”.
The acting executive chairman also asked the commission to specifically take note of states like Bayelsa and Ebonyi in the South and North east zone, which were not adequately represented in the current analyses of the nominal roll of the police force.
The acting executive chairman also asked the commission to specifically take note of states like Bayelsa and Ebonyi in the South and North east zone, which were not adequately represented in the current analyses of the nominal roll of the police force.
He further enjoined the Police Service Commission to ensure fairness, Equity and justice during the recruitment exercise and have the assurance that federal character commission would perform its constitutional role by ensuring proper monitoring and the enforcement of the principle of federal character during the exercise.
Making further submission, the Federal character Commitee on Defence and foreign affairs noted the lopsidedness in the police nominal roll especially in the north east zone probably because of the insurgency in the area which has forced many officers to abandon their jobs while several others were killed by the terrorists.
PSC Chairman, Mike Okiro in his response assured Nigerians that all the seven hundred and seventy four (774)local governments in Nigeria would be represented in the exercise and assured of equity in conducting the exercise.
He further stated that all the states that are grossly under-represented in the police force nominal roll over the years, would be considered and assured that the lopsidedness is corrected with the ongoing recruitment.
Okiro reiterated that it would no longer be business usual as machinery has been put in place by the commission to strictly scrutinize applicants on issues such as age, certificates local government identification and also that anybody with past records of any criminal tendency would not be considered for the exercise.
“Though there would be proper spread of all categories of vacancy declared but, no single unqualified person would be employed in the recruitment” he added.
He further stated that the commission may compare applicant’s information with other data like BVN, National identity and other relevant information adding that there will be adequate publicity for the exercise and the State Police Commissioners would also be used to spread the information in their various states as well as sanitizing and encouraging their indigenes at the grassroots to participate.
