ABUJA, Federal Republic of Nigeria. President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday warned officials of the Ministry of Police Affairs and the Police Service Commission (PSC) against any irregularities or extortion of money from unemployed Nigerians in the upcoming recruitment into the police.
At a meeting with officials at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Buhari stressed that he would not tolerate reports of any applicants having to pay bribes for recruitment into the police as was the case in the past, saying it was sad and totally unacceptable.
The President emphasised that all those in charge of recruitment and training in the police must be above board and eschew extortion and underhand dealings.
“You must ensure that the recruitment process is transparent. Those who will conduct the recruitment must be above board.
“It should not be heard that they receive gratification or extort money from those who want to enlist in the police.”
The President also directed the Inspector-General of Police to prune down the number of policemen attached to dignitaries, and re-deploy all policemen withdrawn from that role to regular police duties.
On the stagnation of policemen on a rank for many years, Buhari advised the Police Service Commission to review the current structure of the police, and make recommendations on how the problem can be solved to boost the morale of serving policemen.
Chairman of the Police Service Commission, Mike Okiro, said that the country needed to have more than the 305,579 policemen and women, which it has at present for effective policing.
He thanked the President for approving the recruitment of 10,000 additional policemen and women earlier this week.
Credit: Daily Independent (Nigeria)
