Police disqualify SSCE, Third Class holders from recruitment

Police Service Commission says holders of Secondary School Certificate would no longer be accepted into the Nigeria Police Force as constables.

It said the minimum entry requirement now was Ordinary National Diploma.

The commission also stated that Third Class degree holders were no longer accepted as Cadet Inspectors, in line with the reform in the force.

PSC Commissioner and Chairman, Public Affairs Committee of the commission, Ms. Comfort Obi, who stated this at a news conference in Abuja on Monday, explained that the commission had reviewed the recruitment process into the police.

According to her, the PSC has over the years formulated policies aimed at the efficiency and discipline of the police force, adding that background checks are now carried out on applicants to separate bad eggs and discourage people of shady characters from joining the police.

Obi stated that polygraph tests were also carried out on applicants to determine drug users, alcoholics and liars that could tarnish the image of the force.

She said, “The mechanism put in place by the commission is in line with police regulations to ensure that bad eggs don’t find their way into the force. We are focusing on the recruitment process and have raised the minimum entry requirements.

“SSCE holders can no longer join the police as constables; even a third class degree holder cannot join the Cadet Inspector cadre. The minimum qualification for a constable is OND and it must include six credit passes in SSCE including Credit pass in English and Mathematics.”

The PSC Commissioner in charge of Strategy, Dr. Otive Igbuzor, explained that written examinations had been introduced for applicants, adding that promotions in the force were based on merit.

He explained that 599 cases of indiscipline were treated between 2008 and 2011. He said 94 officers were compulsorily retired, and a number of others were sanctioned for various offences.