The recruitment of 10, 000 policemen by the Police Service Commission begins nationwide on Friday (today).
President Muhammadu Buhari had last year at the National Security Summit in Abuja directed the Force to recruit 10,000 Nigerians into the service to address the obvious shortfall in the manpower need of the police.
Speaking on the recruitment exercise on Thursday in Abuja, the PSC Chairman, Mike Okiro, warned the commission’s workers who would be involved in the screening of candidates to avoid any act that might compromise the integrity of the exercise.
Okiro said any worker involved in any misconduct during the exercise would be sanctioned in line with the Public Service Rules and might be prosecuted for sabotage.
He advised the workers to live above board “as the Commission is ready to make a huge success of this presidential assignment in line with its resolution to discharge its duties within the ambit of the law, transparently, and according to laid down rules.”
Okiro also warned the candidates to desist from indulging or inducing the workers of the commission, stressing that anyone caught would be arrested and prosecuted.
He explained that the Nigeria Police Force deserved the best brains in the Nigerian society, stressing that the PSC would ensure that only the best would be engaged as policemen.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Police Force has acquired 4,388 housing units in 22 housing estates across the country for purchase by its personnel.
The Inspector-General of Police, Solomon Arase, who said this on Thursday in Abuja, stated that 700 housing units were acquired under his administration, while 2,291 were at various stages of construction.
Speaking during the inauguration of the NPF Brick City Housing Estate, Kubwa, Abuja, the IG said the estates were acquired by the Nigeria Police Cooperative Multipurpose Society Limited, which was established in 1977 to develop and improve the welfare of police officers.
He said the houses were allocated to policemen through a mortgage arrangement, noting that police officers across various cadres had benefitted from the housing scheme.
Arase said that the Brick City Estate consists of 96 units of one-bedroomed flat, 40 units of two-bedroomed, 44 units of two-bedroomed semi-detached flats, 56 units of three-bedroomed semi-detached, and 24 three bedroomed bungalows.
He said the estate was fully serviced with tarred road, potable water, electricity, perimeter fence and a security post.
The police boss said the force management was not working alone, adding that it partnered real estate experts, including a real estate firm, Urban Shelter Ltd., to achieve the goal.
Arase noted that welfare of policemen, including the provision of quality and affordable housing, was one of his visions when he assumed office as the IG.
He said, “Today, the Nigeria Police Cooperative Multipurpose Society Limited has delivered to policemen across all cadres’ houses in one, two and three-bedroomed categories. It is important to note that the police through its society has so far acquired and the developing 4,388 housing units in 22 housing estates across the country.”
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