In a development that is both ironically disappointing and deeply revealing, the Police Service Commission (PSC) and the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) are enmeshed in corruption allegations over the recruitment of constables.
The allegations, which stem from earlier dispute over right of recruitment into the Nigerian Police Force, emerged recently despite a clear Supreme Court ruling affirming the PSC’s authority to handle recruitment, highlighting a systemic issue that continues to plague the institution.
The saga began with former President Muhammadu Buhari’s approval in 2019 for the recruitment of 10,000 constables annually for six years. This decision sparked a protracted legal battle between the PSC and the NPF, centering on who held the legitimate power to conduct the recruitment. After four years of intense litigation, the Supreme Court finally ruled in favor of the PSC on July 11, 2023.
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Allegations of Irregularities
However, the victory was short-lived. The Inspector General of Police (IG), Kayode Egbetokun, recently rejected the list of successful candidates submitted by the PSC, citing severe irregularities and corruption. The police high command, in a statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, highlighted disturbing findings: names of individuals who had not applied, candidates who failed essential tests, and those disqualified for medical reasons were all allegedly included in the final list.
“Several names of persons purported to be names of successful candidates are those who did not even apply and therefore did not take part in the recruitment exercise,” he said.
“Most worrisome is the allegation of financial dealings and corrupt practices leading to the outcome where unqualified and untrainable individuals have been shortlisted.
“The reaction of the IGP was without prejudice to the power of the commission to recruit for the police as ruled by the Supreme Court but this power does not include the power to recruit unqualified and untrained individuals for the police,” Adejobi stated.
Adejobi revealed that the police have dissociated themselves from the published list. He argued that the police, rather than the PSC, suffer the consequences of recruiting unqualified individuals.
“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 added.
PSC’s Strong Rebuttal
The PSC, through its Joint Union, quickly disputed these claims, labeling them as diversionary and baseless. They insisted that the recruitment process adhered strictly to due process and was transparent, aligning with the results of the JAMB Computer-Based Test (CBT).
The union’s statement, signed by Ogundeji Remi and Adoyi Adoyi, accused the police of undermining the commission’s authority and pointed to historical instances of the police manipulating recruitment processes for their own ends.
“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 released on June 4, 2024, at their usual meeting point, PSC Corporate Headquarters, with the DIG, Training, Mr. Frank Mba, and other police representatives in attendance.
“Meanwhile, it is also worthy of note that the Police had shortlisted and concluded the exercise without the knowledge of the Board and PSC. They had the effrontery to submit the list to the Commission. They wanted a meeting of the Board where they had planned to force the list on the Board but unfortunately, their plans collapsed.
“For example, this takes us back to 2019 when the then IGP hijacked the list of candidates for the smooth ongoing recruitment exercise from the Commission in the guise of having the list to prepare the training colleges for training purposes and ended up smuggling hundreds of names of persons who neither applied nor participated in the screening process.
“A case in study is Nasarawa State with 13 Local Government Areas that are supposed to have had 253 successful candidates but ended up having 528 after the NPF had sneaked 275 candidates in excess. That culminated in the Commission instituting a legal action against the NPF over our mandate,” the statement explained.
In light of these allegations, the PSC has demanded a forensic audit of the JAMB CBT results, asserting their commitment to transparency. They maintain that the recruitment list is open for scrutiny and challenge any allegations of financial misconduct. The union’s statement also disclosed that the PSC has always involved relevant bodies, including the NPF, in the recruitment process to ensure fairness and credibility.
Enduring Corruption and Calls for Reform
The controversy over recruitment is emblematic of broader issues within the police system, which have fueled loud calls for comprehensive reforms. The deadly EndSARS protests in 2020 were a significant manifestation of public outcry against police brutality and systemic corruption, demanding accountability and transparency in the force.
Many believe this latest conflict is ironically disappointing as it serves once again, as a stark reminder of the deep-rooted corruption in the Nigeria Police Force.
With both the IG Egbetokun, and the PSC calling for a thorough review and audit of the recruitment process to ensure and ascertain that only qualified and competent individuals are enlisted, it is difficult to know who to believe, particularly, given the institution’s antecedents.