Chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC), Dr. Solomon Arase has described the Supreme Court judgement which pronounced the PSC from recruiting constables for the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) as a one in the best interest of the nation.
The apex court gave the directive on 11th July 2023.
PSC’s Head of Press and Public Relations, Mr. Ikechuckwu Ani quoted the PSC boss as saying that the judgement “legally cements the resolution of the issue in a win-win situation for the two institutions which ordinarily cannot effectively function, and deliver on its respective mandates
without the cooperation of each other”.
Going forward, Arase announced that a recruitment board has been constituted,
chaired by the Police Service Commission, with other relevant stakeholders as members, and will be inaugurated in no distant time.
Arase said the board will screen and ensure that only able and qualified members of the public are recruited into the Nigerian police force while reflecting the principle of Federal Character.
The statement read, “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.”
Arase mentioned that the significance of peace and harmony “cannot be over-emphasised, as contemporary security provisioning has become more tasking than ever, and demands 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 our dear country, Nigeria, but also birthing a responsive, responsible and accountable police to our people.”
The statement stated that “peace is essential for growth and success of any institution in delivering on its mandate.”
Furthermore , the communique noted that, the PSC 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”.
