Only 596 persons applied for police recruitment in Abia, 2 from Aba North LGA – PPRO

Only 596 persons applied for police recruitment in Abia, 2 from Aba North LGA – PPRO

By Steve Oko

The Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO in Abia State, Mr. Geoffrey Ogbonna, has decried the low numbers of applicants from the state in the ongoing police recruitment exercise.

Ogbonna who spoke during a youth summit in Umuahia for South East, disclosed that only 596 applications were received from Abia with only two from Aba North Local Government Area.

He disclosed that physical screening would commence on February 1.

The PPRO who said that 10,000 personnel were to be recruited in the on-going exercise nation wide, regretted the general apathy that greeted the exercise in the state, expressing fears that some LGAs like Aba North might not be able to fill its quota.

He refuted allegations of financial inducement and favouritism against some officers, saying that stringent measures were put in place by the Force to checkmate compromise and undue influence in the recruitment exercise.

The Youth Summit entitled” Strengthening Police Reform Project in Nigeria”, was organised by the Network on Police Reform in Nigeria, NOPRIN Foundation, in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Youth & Sports.

In a remark, the National Chairman of NOPRIN, Mr. Saviour Akpan, advocated recruitment of qualified Persons with Disabilities (PWDs), to handle matters relating to PWDs at the various stations.

The NOPRIN boss alleged high level corruption and sharp practices in police recruitment exercises, warning that the sad development, if unchecked, would create room for criminal elements who can bribe their way through to dominate the Force in the years ahead.

” Recruitment is now for the highest bidders. Crimials gangs who have the money sponsor their members into the Force, and in few years to come, they will take over the Force,” he lamented.

In a remark, the Chief Imam of Abia State, Shiek Ali Ukiwo, called for upward review of police salary to motivate the personnel and insulate them against corruption.

He particularly advocated higher pay for the rank and file who he said ” are left to chase the criminals on the street”.

” When you pay police well they will shun corruption. My daughter is in the police but I still take care of her because her salary cannot do much for her.

” I trained her to fear God and shun evil, that’s why I give her make up to save her from temptations. They should upgrade salary of police constables”.

Some participants at the summit regretted that the 20% salary increase for police which was announced by the federal government last year was not captured in the 2022 budget.

They called for enhanced salary structure for the police to help reduce corruption among the personnel.

 

Steve Oko, Publisher/C.E.O, WaWa News Global. For more information on advert placement and news coverage, contact us on: 08038725600, or via email stevemanofgod2000@yahoo.com; wawanewsglobal@gmail.com Always read WaWa News Global - Your most dependable online news platform for the latest breaking news in Nigeria.

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