Encourage Young People From South West To Join Police – PSC Chair,Musiliu Smith Urges

The police service commission has called on Nigerians to intensify sincere efforts to encourage upright and responsible citizens to apply for police jobs.
Chairman of the Commission, Alhaji Musiliu Smith made the call in Lagos at a sensitization and Town Hall meeting on police recruitment.
According to Alhaji Smith, if responsible, educated and upright young Nigerians are motivated to join and remain in the police, the country will have the right people needed for an efficient police force provided they are well equipped in the right quantity and quality.
The retired Inspector General of Police said the steps became necessary because police and policing are indispensable to a peaceful and growing country that is determined to change the narrative on the issues of her internal security.
He urged people to raise an alarm if they notice that some criminal elements in their communities wanted to apply to join the force with the recommendation of some community leaders.
“No one knows better the character of its citizens than members of the community therefore, citizens are encouraged to kindly urge people of good character to join the force”. Oi
Alhaji Smith urged Nigerians to ensure that only the best would be recruited in the ongoing exercise because the purpose of providing security and safety would be defeated if the police institution is contaminated with criminally minded owing to the poor calibre of those applying for the recruitment.
“Those applying for intake should take the process seriously by preparing very for the examination to give them the best possible chance of success.”
He also said some of the officers are not interested in improving themselves educationally when they eventually join the force.
He also said that citizens should endeavour to encourage serving policemen by reporting and commending professionalism and acts of valour to relevant authorities as much as they regularly report misconducts by bad eggs.
“The PSC has adopted an approach to improving Police, Citizens relationships through Community engagement forums such as this one were issues that citizens are addressed and endeavour to keep the conversations going.
Some members of the Police Community Relations Committee from Lagos and Ogun States raised diverse factors discouraging young people from joining the force and other security matters.
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu in his remarks said, the town hall meeting is very important because it is coming up at this point.
The PSC is in charge of this and we are only supporting it. What we have observed over the years is that the number of people joking the service has been dribbling and we wonder why that is happening.
Sanwo-Olu who was represented by Mrs Folashade Jaji, Secretary to the Lagos State Government said it has been observed over the years that the number of people joining the Police and Armed force has reduced.
“We wonder why that is happening, and we believe we should encourage the youth to join the Nigerians police and other force. We may not appreciate the importance of encouraging them to join the police and other armed forces u til the future. When we are all retired, will there still be people in the police force that we can still go to for help?
“We found out that Lagos State indigenes are under-represented and we urge the appropriate persons to work towards this. It means we will not have people to run to in the future, there’s I encourage them to join the police and other force.
“Maybe our youths are not encouraged by the behaviour of our police hence d there not joining. There is also a need to take care of the police welfare and needs. In some places where you see the police, you admire them and want to join, because the right thing has been done in taking care of them. I am also to tell the commissioners to also do the needful so that the police force can act responsibly.”
Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun who was represented by a retired AIG, Olusola Subair said: “We all need to know that we can only attain prosperity in an ambience of security. That is why we urged the conveners of this meeting.
To the police, we need to do a lot of homework that will make people to be attracted to the job.
The police officer must know that a little effort can go a long way to change the way you are perceived by the public. There has to be an effort to change the motive.
“A little respect to our policy will go a long way to appreciate the police. Let us look at the good that is the police and give them good names so that people outside can see our police and appreciate them.
The social well-being and security of the citizens is our responsibility. We will continue to do all that is within our capacity that our people that are willing to join the police are encouraged.”
The Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone 2, AIG Bode Adeleke in his remarks said that there is a need to encourage the youth d to join the police force.
“We should also talk to those who are going through the recruitment that nothing comes easy but joining the Police is a way of taking out criminality in our society.”
Chairman Orile Agege local government, Hon Johnson Sunday Babatunde commended the PSC for putting up the program because there is a need to encourage the youths to be part and parcel of the recruitment exercise while we sit back and keep seeing other Zones bringing in their people. “All the stakeholders should go back home to tell our people to bring in their youths into the force.
“Also, said people should be reminded that the Police are integral parts of our lives, so they should portray the force as the friend of the community either in their dressing, attitude and action.”