A dispute between the Police Service Commission (PSC) and the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) is delaying the recruitment of new police constables. This conflict is affecting police service delivery and slowing down efforts to increase the police workforce.
Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, recently rejected a recruitment list from the PSC, claiming it included unqualified candidates and was tainted by corruption. He stated that some candidates who did not apply or failed screening tests were listed as successful.
The PSC staff union, however, argued that the PSC’s authority to recruit is constitutionally backed and supported by a Supreme Court ruling. They accused the police of obstructing the recruitment process and acting with hidden motives.
This clash is not new; past efforts to recruit police officers have also been stalled by disagreements between the PSC and NPF. Despite a directive from former President Buhari to recruit 60,000 officers over six years, only 20,000 have been hired so far. The ongoing dispute has left the force understaffed, impacting internal security.
Experts and stakeholders, including security analysts and former police officials, are calling for President Bola Tinubu to intervene and resolve the conflict to ensure the recruitment process can move forward smoothly.
