Nigeria Police Academy Has No Authority to Recruit Cadets, Advert Calling Application ‘Null and Void’- PSC
The Police Service Commission (PSC) has insisted that it remains the only body given the power to recruit personnel for the Nigeria Police by law.
The commission in a statement signed by its spokesman, Ikechukwu Ani on Thursday dismissed a recent online advertisement by the Nigeria Police Academy, Wudil, Kano State calling for applications for admission into the institution as “null and void.”
The commission called attention to the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court judgements that affirmed the powers of the commission as the sole “authority” to recruit personnel for the Nigerian Police.
The commission while dismissing the academy’s advertisement also stated that the recruitment process will ordinarily be carried out in collaboration with all relevant stakeholders including the Federal Ministry of Police Affairs, th Nigeria Police and the commission as prescribed by law.
The PSC insisted that the recruitment process must also be decentralized alongside the 36 states and the FCT for ease of the processes, safety and to avoid resource wastage.
The full statement reads:
“The attention of the Police Service Commission has been drawn to an advertisement tagged “APPLICATION FOR ADMISSION INTO THE 12TH REGULAR COURSE DEGREE PROGRAMMES OF THE NIGERIA POLICE ACADEMY, WUDIL, KANO STATE” informing the general public that the online application for admission into the 12th Regular Course of its degree programmes will open from 28th July 2025 to 8th September 2025.
“This advertorial which was placed in flagrant violation of the required procedure was an undisguised attempt to undermine the Commission which has the Constitutional Mandate to recruit including through the Academy.
“The Commission has the sole authority to appoint persons holding or aspiring to hold offices into the Nigeria Police Force as clearly stated in the Court of Appeal’s judgement on the 30th day of September 2020 in Police Service Commission v. Inspector-General of Police & 3 ors CA/A/84/2020 pg 80 and this was affirmed by the Supreme Court in NPF v. Police Service Commission SC/CV/773/2020.
“As a law-abiding institution of government, the Police Service Commission will continue to resist and condemn any action by any person, body or authority that is in contravention of the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The publication obviously undermines the rule of law and infringes upon the fundamental rights and freedoms guaranteed to all citizens as has been interpreted by the Apex Court in the land. No individual or institution including the Police Service Commission or the Nigeria Police Force is above the rule of law.
“The issue of Recruitment/Employment is not solely a Police Service Commission assignment but extends to all key stakeholders in order to avoid the issue of spoils system, cronyism, nepotism, corruption and other related vices.
“The Commission hereby notifies the general public to disregard the said advertisement as it is not aware and necessary stakeholders’ input was not sought or received. These stakeholders include the Ministry of Police Affairs, Federal Character Commission and the Nigeria Police Force who were not consulted before the said release of the advertisement by the Nigeria Police Academy, Wudil.
“Furthermore, the process and procedures that the Management of Police Academy introduced in the recent past is completely chaotic, confusing and unpredictable, deliberately designed to breed and create room for corruption. Worse still, charging application fees of N6,000 in an exercise designed to be absolutely free is absurd.
“In addition, inviting all the prospective applicants to appear in the premises of the Police Academy instead of decentralizing the process and procedures in the 36 states and Abuja where the applicants reside to avoid unnecessary stress, economic wastage, risk of journey, accommodation problem for the applicants and their families and most especially complaints of parents of the coordinated practice of corrupt tendencies in the chaotic situation.
“The present Commission’s leadership, in collaboration with the key stakeholders, Ministry of Police Affairs, Federal Character Commission and Nigeria Police Force is set to bring policies in line with Global best practices of governance, transparency, accountability, equity and fairness in tune with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu led Administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
“This statement serves as a disclaimer that any unlawful or unconstitutional action occasioned by the advertisement is meant to mislead the public and does not reflect a legitimate exercise of constitutional responsibility. Hence, the Police Service Commission would not be held responsible.
“Consequently, the advertisement is hereby declared null and void.
