The Police Service Commission (PSC) has said that the recruitment of police officers remains the constitutional responsibility of the Commission, saying the right was affirmed by a judgement of the Federal Court of Appeal.

The Commission made this known in reaction to the protest which led to the Thursday’s shut down of the PSC headquarters in Abuja over the takeover of the ongoing recruitment of 10,000 constables by the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).

The Star recalls that the Police Service Commission workers had on Thursday protested the takeover of the ongoing constables’ recruitment exercise, lack of staff promotion and training by the management.

The aggrieved staff, who declared a three-day warning strike with effect from Thursday, forced some of the Commission’s directors out of their offices.

However, the Commission, in a statement made available to newsmen on Saturday, stated that it has never surrendered its mandate to the Nigeria Police Force.

According to the statement signed by the Head of Press and Public Relations, Ikechukwu Ani, the Commission is currently taking up the screening dates for the 2021 constable recruitment, adding that the Commission would ensure that its constitutional responsibilities are not hijacked.

The statement read in part: “It is necessary to state unequivocally that the recruitment of police officers from the rank of Constables to Cadet Inspectors and Cadet ASPs are and remains the Constitutional responsibility of the Commission and this was also affirmed not long ago by a judgement of the Federal Court of Appeal.

“The management of the Commission has no intention to abdicate this constitutional responsibility.

“It should be noteworthy that the management had few weeks ago addressed the staff on this matter and had also followed up with contact with the Inspector General of Police to explain issues arising from the preparation for the conduct of the 2021 recruitment process.

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“Earlier favourable judgement to the Inspector General of Police by the Federal High Court Abuja was used for the takeover of all police recruitments including that of Police Academy.

“At no time did management willingly surrender the Commission’s mandate to the Nigeria Police Force. This, it will never contemplate.

“The management is currently taking up the recent announcement by the police, of sreening dates for the 2021 constable recruitment, and will ensure that the constitutional responsibilities of the Commission are not hijacked.”

Ani added that the Commission would keep to the existing clearly defined roles for all parties including the PSC, NPF, Federal Character Commission and state governments.

He further noted that the Commission has no challenge with the training of staff on police recruitment.

Speaking on the 2021 staff promotion, Ani stated that the PSC will approve the recommendation of its Standing Committee on Establishment at its next plenary meeting, adding that the Commission will continue to protect the interest of the workers.

He, therefore, appealed to the staff to “reconsider their combative approach and join hands with the management of the Commission to realize earliest resolutions of the matter according to the constitution and current judgement of the Court of Appeal.”

TheStar