Supreme Court Judgement: PSC Constitutes Recruitment Board For Nigeria Police

The Police Service Commission (PSC), has announced the setting up of a Recruitment Board for the Nigeria Police Force to be chaired by the Commission with other relevant stakeholders as members.

The Board which would be inaugurated in due cause shall  screen and ensure that only able and qualified members of the public are recruited into the Nigeria Police Force reflecting the principle of Federal Character.

This followed the judgement of the Supreme Court on July 11, 2023, which laid to rest the contentious issue and controversy between the Police Service Commission and the Nigeria Police Force, as to whose duty it was to recruit constables for the Nigeria Police.

The Supreme Court in the judgment, unequivocally held that the Police Service Commission remains the agency statutorily mandated to do so.

In a statement on Sunday, August 27, 2023, the Chairman of the PSC, Dr. Solomon Arase, a retired Inspector General of Police (IGP), said that the imperativeness of peace, harmony and cordiality between the two institutions cannot be over-emphasized, as contemporary security provisioning has become more tasking than ever.

Dr. Arase said in the statement signed by Ikechukwu Ani, head of Press and Public Relations of PSC, that there is more demands than ever before for a robust policy guideline from the Commission, if the Nigeria Police Force must be repositioned for greater efficiency and effectiveness in not only meeting up with the myriad of security challenges confronting the country but, also birthing a responsive, responsible and accountable police for the nation.

In the words of Arase; “Peace is essential for growth and success of any institution in delivering on its mandate, and it is hoped that the Commission and NPF will continue to build and consolidate on the emerging trust, confidence and mutual respect which will aggregate to foster and entrench a culture of love and symbiotic relationship between the two agencies, towards the attainment of our statutory mandates, for a greater, safer, prosperous and more secure Nigeria.

“Prior to the judgment, efforts were already in process and at advanced stage towards amicable resolution of the issue between the two critical institutions, as it was highly embarrassing to Government, and indeed other stakeholders for the duo which ought to work in harmony and mutuality to have engaged in such avoidable legal disputation over an issue that sought understanding, respect and compromise,” he said.

The chairman of the PSC noted that before the Supreme Court judgement, the unnecessary imbrogilo impacted negatively on the Staff of the Commission and officers and other ranks of the Nigeria Police Force.

Arase further said that the judgment simply and legally cements the resolution of the issue in a win-win situation for the Police Service Commission and the Nigeria Police Force which ordinarily cannot effectively function, and deliver on its respective mandates without the cooperation of each other.

The chairman of the PSC therefore said that it must be said and seen, that the judgment was delivered for the overall best interest of national security, and goes to underscore the imperative need for harmonious working relationship and mutual trust amongst agencies of Government.

According to Arase; “Consequently, it is important that all concerned de-escalate and eschew all forms of hostilities, misconceptions, preconceptions and prejudices against each other which were at the base of the hitherto characterizing of a no love lost relationship between the Commission and the NPF”.