The Nigerian Senate has directed the Police Service Commission in conjunction with the Nigeria Police Force to recruit a minimum of 10 candidates from each of the 774 Local Government councils in Nigeria.
It also urged the PSC and NPF to adhere to the Federal Character principle in the recruitment of constables into the NPF.
The resolution of the upper chamber followed the adoption of a motion sponsored by Senator Udende Memga (APC- Benue North East).
Memga in his lead debate said that the former President Muhammadu Buhari led administration had ordered the recruitment of 10,000 constables annually as part of measures to address the nation’s security challenges.
He added that the current government under President Bola Tinubu is keen on implementing the policy of recruiting 10,000 police constables.
The lawmaker explained that the recruitment is meant to be conducted based on the equality of Local governments, given its community policing tendencies.
Udende pointed out that Local government’s selection criteria, will give effect to the Federal character principle which is borne out of the need to ensure evenness in spreading government appointments, promote inclusion, and to give a sense of belonging to all zones.
He warned against predominance of persons from a few States, ethnic or sectional groups.
The lawmaker however expressed worry that recruitment on State basis as against the Local government selection as initially contemplated and adopted, would lead to disproportional and lopsided recruitment.
This, he says will address the sense of marginalization and injustice by certain zones, states and local governments in the Nigeria Police Force.
Accordingly, the Senate urged the Committees on Police Affairs and Legislative Compliance to ensure compliance of resolutions of the Senate by concerned Agencies on the recruitment.
(Editor: Ken Eseni)
