Make Police career attractive to Youths – Governor charges Police Commission
In a bid to change the glaring disinterest from Igbo youths to towards joining the Nigerian Police Force, residents of the South-East and the Imo State governor, Hope Uzodimma, have urged the Police Service Commission to make policing an attractive career to Nigerians.
The Governor made the call, while speaking at the Sensitization and Town Hall Forum of the PSC on Police Recruitment in Nigeria, held in Owerri, Imo State on Wednesday.
The Governor, represented by his state Commissioner for Homeland Security and Vigilante Affairs, Dr Ugorji O. Ugorji, noted that the Nigeria Police needs a cleanup as civility in any profession defines the profession.
He said his state cannot afford not to pay keen attention to the Nigeria Police and that he has since made police and policing a priority therein.
He stressed that 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”.
In his submission at the programme, the Chairman of the Imo State Traditional Institution and Community Policing, Eze (Dr) E.C. Okeke, Ezeimo, represented by the Secretary of the Council, Eze Dr Lucky Okoro, also called for improved welfare for the men and officers of the Force.
The state Commissioner of Police, CP Hussaini Rabiu, told the Forum that the lack of interest by the South East was becoming worrisome as only 41 applicants turned up on Tuesday in the ongoing screening in three local government areas of the State.
He said the Igbos are marginalising themselves, by not showing interest in joining the force.
He further commended the PSC for the initiative, stressing that it would encourage our youths to join the police.
Earlier, the Commissioner representing the South East in the Commission and leader of Delegation, Chief Onyemuche Nnamani, 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.
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,” he said.
He further advised the South-East leaders to make security matters a top priority, adding that “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 its attractiveness”.
