The Nigeria Police on Tuesday denied a media report on suspension of entry requirements for candidates who wished to join the Force as constables.
The media had reported that the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, sent a signal on August 24 directing that no candidate should be disqualified irrespective of their physical appearance, age and qualification as screening for recruitment of 10,000 constables began.
But in a statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, Frank Mba, the IGP denied the report, saying no one could change the provisions of the Police Act and Regulations.
The statement said, ”The Inspector General of Police, IGP M.A Adamu, NPM,mni has reassured Nigerians that the statutory entry requirements into the Nigeria Police Force remain sacrosanct and would be thoroughly followed in the ongoing Police recruitment screening exercise. The IGP’s reassurance became necessary following news report making the rounds in some sections of the media that the IGP has suspended the entry requirement for candidates who applied to join the Nigeria Police Force as Police constables in the ongoing recruitment screening exercise.
”The IGP, while noting that that no one has the powers to alter the conditions for recruitment into the Force – these, having been clearly provided for in Sections 71 – 75 and other relevant sections of the Police Act and Regulations – stated that all candidates who successfully completed the online recruitment registration exercise were invited for physical and credential screening from 24th August, 2020 to 6th September, 2020 at various venues in States across the Federation and the FCT. The screening Officers have been directed to allow all the applicants to participate in the exercise and to recommend their suitability or otherwise in the spirit of transparency, accountability and fair hearing using the already established benchmarks as contained in the Act.”
Mba also said the police have also invited observers and monitors from the Ministry of Police Affairs, the Police Service Commission and the Federal Character to ensure a credible exercise.