The House of Representatives has waded into the face-off between the Police Service Commission and the inspector general of police over recruitment into the force.

This followed the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance by Rep. Mitema Obordor (PDP -Bayelsa) during the plenary in Abuja.

The motion was titled ‘Resolving the Impasse: An Urgent Need to Investigate and Settle Lingering Police Recruitment Dispute Halting the 2023/2024 Police Recruitment’.

Mr Obordor presented a motion that the police are under the supervision of the PSC, which has the power to appoint, promote and dismiss all officers except the IGP.

The legislator said this was to broker a relationship of trust and confidence between the public and the police. He said given Nigeria’s population and security situation, the ideal police-to-citizen ratio in Nigeria ought to be one police officer to 200 citizens.

He, however,  said the country currently has a ratio of one police officer to 650 citizens, indicating a significant shortfall in the strength of Nigerian police.

The lawmaker said this was far below the United Nations recommendation of one police officer to 450 citizens. He said the lingering dispute between the PSC and the I-GP resulted in an impasse and had regrettably halted the ongoing recruitment process for almost 10 months.

Mr Obordor said there was a critical need to strengthen the Nigerian police force by setting a ratio of one police officer to 200 citizens. He said it was imperative to adopt the United Nations recommendation of a ratio of one police officer to 450 citizens to address the escalating security challenges facing our nation.

Mr Obordor added that the shortage of police personnel had reduced police presence in communities, thereby leading to a surge in crime rates as criminals took advantage of the situation.

Adopting the motion, the parliament urged its committees on police to investigate the root cause of the lingering dispute between the PSC and the IGP.

It said this was to resolve the dispute, proceed with the recruitment process without further delay, and report to it with recommendations within four weeks.

The house also urged the federal government to provide adequate funding and resources necessary to support the recruitment and training of police officers.

It also urged the federal government to increase the number of police personnel to be recruited and, in doing so, ensure that Federal Character provisions as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution are strictly adhered to.

(NAN)