The Police Service Commission (PSC) has officially released a list of 10,000 successful candidates selected for recruitment into the Nigeria Police Force’s constable and specialist cadres.

Police Recruitment: PSC Releases List of Successful Candidates

The commission emphasized that the recruitment process was conducted with fairness and justice, guided by relevant stakeholders including the Nigeria Police Force, the National Assembly, and the Federal Character Commission. It ensured that successful candidates were distributed equitably across all 774 local government areas in Nigeria.

PSC spokesperson Ikechukwu Ani announced the development in a statement on Tuesday. He stated, “The Police Service Commission has approved and released the list of 10,000 successful applicants for recruitment into the constable cadre of the Nigeria Police Force. The commission today, Tuesday, June 4, 2024, received the report of the Police Recruitment Board. 9,000 applicants were approved for recruitment for General Duty, while 1,000 applicants were recruited for the Specialists cadre.”

To ensure a fair recruitment process, the commission collaborated with key stakeholders including the Nigeria Police Force, the National Assembly, and the Federal Character Commission. Ani highlighted that the PSC ensured an equitable distribution of successful candidates across all local government areas.

Earlier, the commission had inaugurated a Recruitment Board comprising representatives from the PSC, NPF, Ministry of Police Affairs, Federal Character Commission, Police Colleges, and the Police Trust Fund. This board supervised the recruitment process and reported back to the PSC.

Nigerian youths were invited to apply online through paid advertisements in various national media, with a six-week application period from October 15, 2023, to November 26, 2023, in line with Federal Character requirements. The PSC received a total of 609,886 applications, of which 416,323 met the advertised requirements and were shortlisted for the second stage, which involved physical and document screening conducted from January 8 to January 29, 2024, across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

Following the physical and credentials screening, 171,956 applicants advanced to the Computer Based Tests (CBT), administered by the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB), known for its expertise in CBT. Ani reported, “15,447 General Duty applicants who excelled in the CBT were invited for medical screening to assess their health status. Additionally, 55,645 Specialist applicants who passed the physical and credentials screening underwent practical tests followed by medical screening. Each stage of the recruitment process was conducted with rigorous scrutiny and care.”

In total, 10,000 applicants were recommended for final selection, comprising 9,000 for General Duty and 1,000 Specialists. The selection of specialists was coordinated with the Nigeria Police Force based on need assessments to ensure capability and balanced geographical representation.

PSC Chairman Dr. Solomon Arase, a retired Inspector General of Police, remarked that the comprehensive recruitment process aimed to enhance the capacity and effectiveness of the Nigeria Police Force, reinforcing its commitment to community-oriented policing. Arase stated, “I am filled with optimism because these young men and women represent the future of our nation’s security, and it is our collective responsibility to ensure their journey begins on a foundation of integrity, transparency, and excellence.”

He further noted that the entire process was designed to build a competent, reliable, and representative Police Force. The final selection was meticulously structured to ensure fairness and inclusivity, with 10 candidates chosen from each local government area as advised by the National Assembly’s plenary decision on February 29, 2024, aimed at creating a representative and diverse Police Force.

To maintain confidentiality and comply with the Nigeria Data Protection Act of 2023, the PSC Chairman disclosed that the list of successful candidates would be presented to the public in a manner that safeguards the recruits’ personal data, ensuring their and their families’ safety.

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