The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Adamu, on Tuesday, described the news that he had directed the suspension of entry requirements for candidates undergoing physical screening exercise as untrue.
The Media had been awash with reports of the IG directing that no candidate who successfully submitted their online registration forms should be disqualified for any reason.
The reports quoted the directive from the IG as saying: “Inspector-General of Police directs that you attend to all applicants who successfully submitted their online applications to police recruitment portal irrespective of their physical appearance, age and qualification. You are not to disqualify any applicant for any reason whatsoever.
“Note that your recommendation for each applicant will serve as a guide to ascertaining the suitability or otherwise of each applicant. Ensure that the entire process is transparent and devoid of corruption and closely monitor activities of ICT personnel and other members of the team for strict compliance, please.”
However, in a statement issued on Tuesday by the Public Relations Officer, Nigerian Police Force, Dr. Frank Mba, the IG urged citizens to ignore the “trending fake news,” saying statutory entry requirements remain sacrosanct and would be thoroughly followed in the ongoing police recruitment screening exercise.
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The statement partly read: “The IGP, while noting that no one has the powers to alter the conditions for recruitment into the Force – these, having been clearly provided for in Sections 71 – 75 and other relevant sections of the Police Act and Regulations – stated that all candidates who successfully completed the online recruitment registration exercise was invited for physical and credential screening from 24th August 2020 to 6th September 2020 at various venues in States across the Federation and the FCT.
“The screening officers have been directed to allow all the applicants to participate in the exercise and to recommend their suitability or otherwise in the spirit of transparency, accountability and fair hearing using the already established benchmarks as contained in the Act.
“Screening officers across the nation have also been urged to uphold a high level of professionalism and observe necessary measures in line with COVID-19 prevention regulations throughout the period of the exercise.
“To ensure a credible exercise, observers and monitors from the Ministry of Police Affairs, the Police Service Commission and the Federal Character Commission have been invited to provide oversight at the screening.”
