Recruitment: PSC Chairman Advocates For Rigorous Background Checks

The Chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC), retired Deputy Inspector General Hashimu Argungu, has emphasised the importance of thorough and well-defined background checks in the recruitment process for the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).

He believes that meticulous vetting is crucial to selecting the right candidates who can effectively contribute to nation-building.

In a statement released in Abuja on Thursday by the PSC’s spokesperson, Mr. Ikechukwu Ani, Argungu made these remarks during the 6th edition of the Commission’s “Arena of Knowledge” weekly lecture series.

Argungu stressed that ensuring the right individuals are appointed to positions within the nation’s bureaucracy is a complex task that requires a strategic recruitment process.

He highlighted the need for aligning the skills and knowledge of candidates with job requirements, emphasizing that recruitment should be carefully planned to achieve objectives such as attracting top talent, ensuring jurisdictional relevance, and upholding democratic principles.

He further pointed out that successful recruitment can be challenging if job roles are not clearly defined. Argungu stressed the importance of finding and securing candidates with the right skills at the right time and place.

Discussing the topic “Hiring and Firing in the Public/Civil Service: PSC Employment and Recruitment Template, Process, and Practices,” Argungu underscored that background checks for applicants should encompass their educational history, previous employment, criminal records, and public records including birth, marriage, and divorce records.

He also noted that appointments to various government positions should be based on specific needs.

In the same lecture series, Mr. Sunday Abutu Garuba, Assistant Director in the PSC’s Department of Human Resource Management, echoed similar sentiments. He highlighted the critical nature of adherence to established rules, regulations, and guidelines in the hiring and firing processes.

Garuba explained that the Public Service Rules (PSR) provide a framework for ensuring merit, transparency, and fairness in managing civil servants. Effective hiring practices attract top talent, while just and fair firing procedures maintain accountability and integrity within the public service.

He concluded that by following due process and upholding public service principles, the civil service can be made more competent, efficient, and responsive, thereby serving the nation with integrity and excellence.