The Police Service Commission (PSC) has reported that it has screened over 136,000 candidates applying for the position of constables since the commencement of the exercise on January 8. The commission’s Public Relations Officer, Ikechukwu Ani, revealed that details of 108,768 of the screened applicants have been uploaded, with the remaining yet to be processed due to network challenges.
Furthermore, the PSC, through the Police Recruitment Board, is currently in the process of screening 416,270 Nigerian youths who have shown interest in joining the Nigeria Police Force. This involves physical and credentials screening, as well as an upcoming aptitude test and medical examination. The commission has implemented upgrades and automation in the recruitment process to ensure credibility and establish a measurable standard for the selection of successful candidates.
The results and outcomes of the ongoing screening exercise are being uploaded in real time to the commission’s portal and are being monitored by the Situation Room, which is overseen by the Commission’s Chairman, Mr. Solomon Arase, a retired Inspector-General of Police.
Mr. Ani shared that the Chairman has expressed appreciation for the successes recorded so far but has also raised concerns about some candidates who, despite holding impressive Senior Secondary School Certificates (SSSC) and National Examination Council Certificates, are unable to write their own names or introduce themselves. This led to questioning the acquisition of such certificates by these candidates.
Mr. Arase emphasized the importance of the upcoming aptitude tests, which will serve as the first stage of the recruitment process, aiming to eliminate clearly unqualified candidates and subsequently reduce the number of individuals appearing for screening.
The chairman has vowed to ensure that the commission establishes an effective and efficient recruitment template for Nigeria, believing that getting it right at the entry point will significantly enhance the expected performance of the officers by almost 60%.
As the PSC continues to navigate the recruitment process, it seeks to set a benchmark for the selection of competent and qualified individuals to serve in the Nigeria Police Force.
