No fewer than 30,000 youths will be recruited to join the Nigeria Police Force in the ongoing recruitment exercise.
A statement by the Chairman of the Police Service Commission, Solomon Arase, confirmed this on Sunday.
Arase, a former Inspector General of Police, said over 400,000 Nigerians had applied for the police constable job after six weeks of receiving applications.
According to the statement on the commission’s website, the recruitment exercise starts on Monday, January 8, throughout the federation, with physical and credentials screening of successful applicants.
The statement quoted Arase as admonishing staff of the commission at a pre-deployment briefing over the weekend that “this is not merely a recruitment exercise; rather, it is a saga – an epic tale where your actions will reverberate through time, each decision, each interaction becomes a paragraph in this narrative, shaping the perception of our Commission and the legacy we leave behind.”
Arase charged the staff to uphold the torch of professionalism and integrity and embrace this responsibility with the knowledge that their actions will resonate beyond the confines of the present.
“I admonish you to anticipate unprecedented challenges during this exercise. With over 400,000 applicants passing through your stations, each presenting an argument to join the Nigeria Police Force, the pressure will be immense.
“Remember, you are the guardians of a process that not only holds inherent significance but also paves the way for the forthcoming 30,000-man recruitment approved by the current administration.”
Arase announced that to enhance the efficiency and transparency of the recruitment exercise, the Commission is establishing a Situation Room at the PSC Corporate Headquarters in Jabi, Abuja.
This recruitment exercise, he noted, assumed paramount significance as the first conducted by the Commission since the landmark Supreme Court Judgment of 20th July 2023 that reaffirmed the primacy and exclusivity of the Commission in recruiting for the Nigeria Police Force.
He reminded the Commission’s staff that the nation’s watchful eyes would scrutinise their move.
“Therefore, I implore each of you to exhibit your best behaviour, upholding the highest standards of discipline, integrity and honesty” he charged the staff.
He warned that any staff found soliciting or collecting money from applicants or their families would be subjected to “austere disciplinary measures including possible termination of employment.”
The PSC Chairman said the staff should adhere strictly to the highest standards of professionalism and ethical conduct throughout the entire duration of the exercise.
