The Police Service Commission (PSC) has sought a partnership with the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) to ensure that only credible Nigerians are recruited into the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).
The Head of Press and Public Relations at the PSC, Ikechukwu Ani, made this known in a statement, noting that the Commission is concluding arrangements for the recruitment of Cadets and Constables into the NPF for the year 2025.
According to the statement, the partnership was proposed during a visit by the Chairman of the Commission, DIG Hashimu Argungu, who led a management delegation to the NDPC office in Abuja on Wednesday.
During the visit, DIG Argungu acknowledged that data rules the world, explaining that with accurate and protected data, proper background checks can be conducted on all applicants who are desirous of a career in the NPF.
“We are here to fortify the Commission in its recruitment exercises, we need to know who we are recruiting, and we want to partner with you to make it a success,” he said.
Argungu disclosed that the Commission will soon commence the recruitment of Cadets and the 30,000 Constables annually approved by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The PSC Chairman also lamented the Commission’s inability to access the Nigeria Identity Management Commission (NIMC) database, which would facilitate its constitutional mandate to recruit Nigerians into the NPF.
He appealed to the National Commissioner of the NDPC, Dr. Vincent Olatunji, to intervene and ensure that the PSC gains access to the identities of the Nigerian youths it intends to recruit into the Police Force.
In response, Olatunji promised to intervene and ensure that the Commission is granted the required access to the database for an effective, efficient, and credible recruitment process.
He pledged his office’s commitment to supporting the PSC’s aspirations to conduct a data-protected and credible recruitment exercise.
He further promised to provide data protection training to the Commission’s staff to ensure reliable data handling during the recruitment exercise.
“The two organisations agreed and set up a joint committee to start work in earnest on data protection, in line with international best practices,” the statement added.
