The Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, has rubbished reports that entry requirements will be waved for applicants into the constable cadre.
The IGP made this known on Tuesday through Force Public Relations Officer, Frank Mba.
The police, had on Monday, kicked-off the screening of applicants for 10,000 slots nationwide.
This followed President Muhammadu Buhari’s directive that an additional 40,000 policemen be added in phases of 10,000 over a period of four years.
Mba had explained that all applicants were expected to appear at the screening centres with their duly completed guarantors forms, National Identity Numbers (NIN); original and duplicate copies of their credentials, comprising O’ Level results, certificates of origin and birth or declaration of age.
During the screening, a spokesman of one of the state Police commands had said that applicants with bad dentition, bow legs, knock-knees, flat foot, married women or expectant mothers would be shut out.
He also said that persons not within the 17-25 age bracket, as well as those below 1.5 feet tall for women and 1.7ft for men, would be screened out.
There were reports which quoted the IGP to have directed that no candidate should be disqualified irrespective of their physical appearance, age and qualification.
However, the police chief said the statutory entry requirements remain sacrosanct and would be thoroughly followed in the ongoing recruitment exercise.
“The IGP’s reassurance became necessary following news report making the rounds in some sections of the media that the IGP has suspended the entry requirement for candidates who applied to join the Nigeria Police Force as Police constables in the ongoing recruitment screening exercise,” the statement said.
“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 were 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.
“The IGP has commended the Screening Officers for the hitch-free take-off of the screening exercise at various locations nationwide. He calls on them to uphold a high level of professionalism and observe necessary caution in line with the COVID-19 prevention regulations throughout the period of the exercise.”
