The Police Service Commission (PSC) has disowned an advertisement announcing the commencement of online applications for admission into the 12th Regular Course degree programmes of the Nigeria Police Academy, Wudil, Kano State.
In a statement issued Thursday by the Commission’s Head of Press and Public Relations, Ikechukwu Ani, the PSC described the advertisement as unauthorized and in blatant violation of established procedures. The application process, as publicized, was scheduled to run from July 28 to September 8, 2025.
The Commission condemned the advertorial, asserting that it was a direct attempt to undermine its constitutional mandate as the sole authority responsible for appointing individuals into the Nigeria Police Force. It cited both the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court rulings affirming its statutory role in police recruitment.
“The publication obviously undermines the rule of law and infringes upon the fundamental rights and freedoms guaranteed to all citizens,” the PSC stated. “No individual or institution, including the Police Service Commission or the Nigeria Police Force, is above the rule of law.”
The Commission also criticized the Police Academy’s admission process, describing it as “chaotic, confusing and unpredictable,” and accused the Academy of creating an environment prone to corruption. Specifically, the PSC faulted the decision to charge applicants N6,000 for a process that is meant to be free, and the insistence on physically inviting all applicants to Kano, which it described as an “invitation to avoidable anarchy.”
It added that bypassing key stakeholders — including the Ministry of Police Affairs, the Federal Character Commission, and the Nigeria Police Force — further invalidated the process.
“To avoid spoils system, cronyism, nepotism, and corruption, recruitment into the Nigeria Police must involve all key stakeholders,” the statement emphasized.
Reaffirming its commitment to transparency and best practices in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, the PSC warned the public to disregard the advert, declaring it “null and void.”
The Commission concluded by stressing that any action taken on the basis of the advertisement does not represent a legitimate exercise of constitutional authority, and that it would not be held accountable for any consequences arising from it.
LV