Minister intervenes in IGP, PSC conflict over constable recruitment

Minister intervenes in IGP, PSC conflict over constable recruitment

The Minister of Police Affairs, Senator Ibrahim Gaidam is intervening in the ongoing conflict between the Police Service Commission and the Nigeria Police Force regarding the recent constable recruitment.

Following the release of the list of 10,000 successful applicants for constable and specialist cadre roles by the PSC on June 4, the police rejected the list 11 days later, citing corruption and irregularities in the exercise.

The statement by the force spokesperson, Muyiwa Adejobi said, “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.”

Following the action of the police, the commission’s union called for the removal of the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun for misrepresenting facts on the recruitment exercise.

READ ALSO: IGP rejects police constable recruitment list, alleges corruption, irregularities

The Police Service Commission in its first response on the matter, challenged the police to provide evidence to substantiate its claim that the recruitment exercise was characterised by corruption.

On June 25, the PSC Head of Press and Public Relations, Ikechukwu Ani, stressed that the final list of successful candidates from the recruitment would never be cancelled, insisting that the exercise was done in accordance with relevant laws.

Speaking on the intervention of the minister, the Ministry of Police Affairs spokesperson, Bolaji Kazeem on Friday said that the minister was working to reconcile the two organisations.

He added that the minister would ensure that the issue does not escalate further.

Kazeem said, “Minister working underground to resolve the issue between the two organisations. He doesn’t want the matter to go out of hand.”