The National Commissioner representing the South East in the Police Service Commission, Mr Onyemauche Nnamani, has lamented low applications for recruitment into the Nigeria Police Force by Abia’s youths.
Nnamani, who was in Abia to supervise the ongoing police recruitment exercise in the State, stated this during his working visit to Governor Alex Otti.
He observed that only about 2,000 persons from the State applied for police recruitment when compared to some States in the Northern part of the country with about 30,000 applications.
He explained that President Bola Tinubu mandated the recruitment of 30,000 more men into the police force from Abia State at the end of the current exercise, saying that the President wants to solve the manpower problem being experienced by the Force.
“Abia must be ready for that recruitment. I am not sure it would be fair if any State loses her required number”, he said.
He praised the administration of Governor Otti for improving the security situation of the State but advised the Governor not to relax as there was a need for more improvement.
Responding, Otti described security as a key player in the development of a nation and expressed concern because of the apathy exhibited by qualified youths and employment seekers in the state police recruitment exercise.
He attributed the situation to the mindset of perceived difficulties in rising through the ranks but admonished his people to see police work as a place to make a career.
Otti, however, said his administration is doing everything to make police work more attractive to Abians, disclosing that incentive packages would be dangled at interested Abia applicants in future recruitment exercises to encourage them to join.
He, therefore, mandated the Abia State Commissioner for Information and Culture Okey Kanu and the security team of his administration to mobilize the people with liaison officers, town criers, churches, and community centres in sensitizing the people about the importance of joining the Nigeria Police Force.
