On the 11th of July 2023, the Supreme Court decided and laid to rest the contentious issue and controversy between the Police Service Commission (PSC) and the Nigeria Police Force, as to whose duty it is to recruit constables for the Nigeria Police.
The PSC spokesman, Ikechukwu Ani, said that in the judgment, the Supreme Court unequivocally pronounced the PSC as the agency statutorily mandated to do so.
Prior to the judgment, efforts were already in process and at an advanced stage towards an amicable resolution of the issue between the two critical institutions, as it was highly embarrassing to the 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.
Reacting to the judgment, the Commission’s Chairman, Dr. Solomon Arase, who is also a retired Inspector General of Police, said the judgment simply and 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. It must be said and seen, therefore, that the judgment is delivered for the overall best interest of our national security, and goes to underscore the imperative need for harmonious working relationships and mutual trust amongst agencies of Government.
Consequently, it is important that all concerned de-escalate and eschew all forms of hostilities, misconceptions, preconceptions, and prejudices against each other which were at the base of the hitherto characterizing of a no-love-lost relationship between the Commission and the NPF.
He noted that the unnecessary imbroglio impacted negatively on the Staff of the Police Service Commission and officers and other ranks of the Nigeria Police Force.
Moving forward, Arase announced that a Recruitment Board has been constituted, chaired by the PSC, with other relevant stakeholders as members, and will be inaugurated in no distant time.
He stated that the Board will screen and ensure that only able and qualified members of the public are recruited into the NPF, reflecting also the principle of Federal Character.
Ani said: “The imperativeness of peace, harmony and cordiality between the two institutions, according to him cannot be over-emphasized, 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 responsive, responsible and accountable police to our people.
“Peace is essential for the growth and success of any institution in delivering on its mandate, and it is hoped that the Commission 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.”
