POLICE SERVICE COMMISSION
PRESS AND PUBLIC RELATIONS UNIT
PRESS RELEASE: ‘MAKE POLICE WORK ATTRACTIVE’, IMO PEOPLE TELL PSC
By Mike Osemeke
The Sensitization and Town Hall Forum of the Police Service Commission on Police Recruitment in Nigeria was held in Owerri, Imo State on Wednesday, February 2nd, 2022. The Programme is to sensitize and engage relevant stakeholders to encourage Nigerian youths, especially from the South East to join the Nigeria Police Force. There has been disturbing development from the Zone of glaring disinterest of Igbo youths to join the Force.
The Commission team in Imo State, led by Chief Onyemuche Nnamani, Commissioner representing the south East was confronted with reasons why the Igbo youths are not attracted to make a career in the Police.
Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodinma told the Forum pointedly that the Nigeria Police needs a clean up. The Governor, represented by Dr. Ugorji O. Ugorji, State Commissioner for Homeland Security and Vigilante Affairs noted that if you are in a profession and people are not showing interest or “coming in there is a problem somewhere”
Senator Uzodinma said the Police urgently needs image laundry, stressing that the civility in any profession defines the profession.
The Governor said the state can not afford not to pay keen attention to the Nigeria Police and that he has since made police and policing a priority in the State.
According to him, the State Government has created a Ministry in charge of Homeland Security adding that ” the more we achieve with soft power the less we need the hard power”.
The Chairman of the Imo State Traditional Institution and Community Policing, Eze (Dr) E.C. Okeke, Ezeimo called for improved welfare for the Men and Officers of the Force. ” We need to motivate them, improve their salary and equip them properly for the Organization to attract the best minds’.
The Chairman of the Royal Institution was represented by the Secretary of the Council, Eze Dr. Lucky Okoro.
The Commissioner of Police, Imo State, CP. Hussaini Rabiu told the Forum that the lack of interest by the South East was becoming worrisome. He disclosed that only 41 applicants turned up on Tuesday in the ongoing screening in three local government Areas of the State.
He noted “people don’t appreciate what they have until they lose it” He advised the Igbo youths that they have to start somewhere, adding that recruitment was the starting point.
CP Rabiu said the Igbo’s are marginalizing themselves, ” when you say you don’t want the Police, others will want it”
He Commended the Commission for the initiative stressing that we should encourage our youths to join the police.
Earlier, Chief Onyemuche Nnamani, Commissioner representing the south East in the Commission and leader of Delegation said that there was a compelling and urgent need to encourage South East youths to get into the Police and take control of protecting their states.
Chief Nnamani also noted that there is a greater need to encourage our bright, brilliant, strong and courageous young boys and girls to show interest.
He however advised that if the South East want protection and a safe zone in the near future” we must invest in it. There must be extra benefits, irresistible offers to have the correct people join the Force and in no distant future we will be having the police of our dreams.
The Commissioner said it is disturbing that even the small number of youths interested in making a career in the Force are not usually aware of the entry period nor the conditions required for entry.
” I therefore recommend the creation of a Bureau of Employment and Career Development Unit in each of the five states to compile data of all prospective candidates with the aim of giving them accurate and timely information at all times. The Bureau can also prepare some of the candidates for future engagements by the different security arms and by Ministries, Departments and Agencies of Government”.
Chief Nnamani also advised Southeast leaders to make security matters top priority adding ” we must have a reward system for performing Police Officers working in the South East states, secondly, a proper investment will impact on the prestige of the job which invariably will lead to it’s attractiveness” Ikechukwu Ani, Head, Press and Public Relations told this to the press on Thursday, February 3rd 2022.
