Human capital development expert Alhaji Abdullahi Ibrahim has called upon President Bola Tinubu to initiate a thorough investigation into the allegations raised by the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Kayode Egbetokun, concerning the recent police recruitment exercise in Nigeria. Ibrahim’s plea comes in response to revelations made by police authorities over the past weekend regarding irregularities in the recruitment process.
Expressing deep concern, Ibrahim highlighted what he described as the degradation of Nigeria’s public service, citing issues not only in recruitment but also in training, promotion, and disciplinary matters. He pointedly questioned how such critical deficiencies could persist within the security sector, particularly in the police force, following years of neglect in recruitment procedures.
“The federal government’s attempt to bolster national security through the recruitment of 10,000 police personnel has faced significant hurdles since 2018,” Ibrahim noted. He referenced ongoing disputes between the Inspector-General of Police and the Police Service Commission (PSC) over authority in lower cadre recruitment, resulting in legal battles that have stagnated the process.
Ibrahim emphasized the gravity of the situation, particularly the rejection by police authorities of the last recruitment exercise sanctioned by the PSC. “This development should raise alarms among all patriotic Nigerians,” he asserted, underlining the critical nature of maintaining integrity within the police force.
Since Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999, Ibrahim lamented that corruption, nepotism, and procedural irregularities have plagued the public service, severely impacting recruitment, promotions, and disciplinary actions. He stressed that without adherence to due process and the elimination of undue interference from political quarters, achieving standard recruitment practices would remain elusive.
In contrast, Ibrahim commended the Nigerian Army, Navy, and Air Force for their steadfast commitment to maintaining high standards in recruitment and training processes. He juxtaposed their practices with the recent controversies surrounding police recruitment, suggesting a stark disparity in adherence to procedural norms across different branches of the security apparatus.
Looking ahead, Ibrahim urged President Tinubu to prioritize addressing the systemic issues undermining the credibility of police recruitment and other public service sectors. He proposed reforms aimed at restoring transparency, meritocracy, and accountability as fundamental pillars of recruitment processes. Such reforms, he argued, were crucial not only for restoring public trust but also for enhancing the effectiveness of security agencies tasked with safeguarding the nation.
In conclusion, Ibrahim reiterated the urgency of a presidential inquiry into the police recruitment saga, emphasizing the need for decisive action to rectify the systemic failures identified. He called upon all stakeholders, including civil society organizations and the media, to remain vigilant and advocate for reforms that uphold the highest standards of governance and public service integrity in Nigeria.
