From Haruna Tula – Abuja
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, (NPF), as to whose duty it is to recruit constables for the Nigeria Police.
In the judgment; the Supreme Court unequivocally pronounced the Police Service Commission as the agency statutorily mandated to do so.
Prior to the judgment, efforts were already in process and at advanced stage towards amicable resolution of the issue between the two critical institutions, as it was highly embarrassing to 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, Commission Chairman, Solomon Arase, 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 relationship 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 PSC and the NPF.
According to spokesman of PSC, Mr Ikechukwu Ani, in a statement today 27th August 2023, Arase “noted that the unnecessary imbrogilo impacted negatively on the Staff of the Police Service Commission and officers and other ranks of the Nigeria Police Force.”
Going forward, he announced that a Recruitment Board has been constituted, chaired by the Police Service Commission, with other relevant stakeholders as members, and will be inaugurated in no distant time. 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.
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