PSC Releases Names Of New Police Recruíts

By Ayodele Oni

Additional 10,000  recruits are expected to be added to the Nigeria Police Force to boost its manpower.

This follows the Police Service Commission (PSC) approval and release of the list containing names of successful applicants for recruitment into the Constable cadre of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).

The Commission had on Tuesday received the report of the Police Recruitment Board.

A total number of 9,000 applicants were approved for recruitment for general duty while 1,000 applicants were recruited for the Specialists cadre.

PSC explained that to ensure fairness and justice in the recruitment process, the Commission worked with guidance from relevant stakeholders including the Nigeria Police Force, the National Assembly and the Federal Character Commission.

According to a statement issued  by the Head, Press and Public Relations, Ikechukwu Ani, PSC ensured equity in the spread of successful candidates across the 774 local government areas of the country.

Ani pointed out that the Commission had earlier inaugurated a recruitment Board, a broad-based stakeholders body populated by representatives from the Commission, the Nigeria Police Force, the Ministry of Police Affairs, Federal Character Commission, Police Colleges and the Police Trust Fund to Superintendent over the recruitment process and report back to the Commission.

He said interested Nigerian youths were invited to apply online for consideration for the subsequent stages of the exercise through paid advertisements in several national media.

Interested applicants were given six weeks to conclude the online applications, 15th October to 26th November 2023, in line with the Federal Character requirements.

A total of 609,886 applications, Ani said were received while 416,323 applicants who met the advertised requirements were shortlisted for the second stage of the exercise which was physical and document screening.

“This stage held in the 36 states of the Federation and Federal Capital Territory between Monday, 8th to Monday 29th January 2024.

“The Commission, after the physical and credentials screening, shortlisted 171,956 applicants who met the requirements for the Computer Based Tests (CBT).

“The test was conducted by the Joint Admission and Martriculation Board, JAMB an organisation renowned for its expertise in Computer based tests.

“A total of 15,447 general duty applicants who did well in the CBT were further invited for CBT medical screening to determine their health status.

“The 55,645 Specialists who were shortlisted from the Physical and credentials screening were subjected to practical tests and later medical screening.

“Each stage of the recruitment process was carried out with a high level of scrutiny and care.

“A total of 10000 applicants made up of 9000 General Duty and 1000 Specialists were recommended for final selection.

“The selection of specialists were done in conjunction with the Nigeria Police Force on the need assessment ensuring capability and balance of geographical representation.”

“Chairman of the Commission, Dr. Solomon Arase said the rigorous recruitment process was to enhance the capacity and effectiveness of the Nigeria Police Force and to reinforce its commitment to community rooted and service oriented policing.”

According to him: “I am filled with optimism because these young men and women represent the future of our nation’s security and it is our collective responsibility to ensure that their journey begins on a foundation of integrity, transparency and excellence.”