Senate recommends the recruitment of 10 policemen from each local government area

NIGERIA's senate has called on the Police Service Commission (PSC) to introduce new recruitment guidelines that will ensure the recruiting of at least 10 candidates from each of the country's 774 local government areas.

In a bid to ensure equity and fairness in the fight against the growing crime wave spreading across the country, senators said it was important for every part of the nation to be represented in the security forces. In a motion resented by Senator Udende Memga yesterday, it was revealed that the Buhari administration had mandated the recruitment of 10,000 constables annually as part of efforts to address the nation’s security challenges.

He emphasised President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to implementing the policy but stressed the importance of conducting the recruitment process based on the individual strengths and needs of the various local government areas, particularly in the context of community policing. Senator Memga said: “The use of local government area parameters in the recruitment exercise is to reflect the principles of the federal character.

“It is also meant to promote inclusion. Representation gives a sense of belonging and balance in the polity; Section 14 (3) of the 1999 constitution as amended, captured the Federal Character. This parameter would promote national unity and command national loyalty as well as eliminate marginalisation of any state, ethnic or any group of government or its agency.

“The use of state parameters in the recruitment as against local government areas initially adopted, would lead to inequality. It is extremely important to always reflect a fair representation of all local government areas in the recruitments.”