The Police Service Commission has issued a strong warning to police inspectors scheduled for the upcoming Departmental Selection Board interview, cautioning them against offering bribes or financial inducements to influence the process.
This caution was delivered through a statement on Monday in Abuja by the Head of Press and Public Relations of the PSC, Mr. Ikechukwu Ani.
Ani disclosed that the DSB interviews, set for May 19, will take place at the 17 Zonal Command Headquarters across the country.
These interviews are a prerequisite for inspectors aspiring to be elevated to the rank of unconfirmed Assistant Superintendents of Police (ASP 2).
Highlighting the procedure, Ani noted that the PSC will send its staff to all zones to conduct the interviews in collaboration with officials of the Nigeria Police Force.
He added that the Chairman of the Commission, Mr. Hashimu Argungu, had sternly cautioned candidates against pooling funds or offering any form of inducement to officials overseeing the promotion exercise.
“The PSC chairman had warned the candidates for the interview to desist from contributing money for officials of the commission or the police that would be conducting the interview at the different zones,” Ani stated.
According to him, Argungu assured that any officer, whether from the police or PSC, caught attempting to solicit or accept any form of inducement would face severe consequences.
“The commission would deal ruthlessly with any police officer or its personnel, found to be involved in any way, attempting to induce or compromise the officials, supervising the exercise,” Ani quoted the chairman as saying.
“Argungu warned that such officers would not only be sanctioned but would also be disgraced,” he added.
The PSC chairman emphasized that the commission is determined to eliminate corrupt practices associated with past promotion interviews, where candidates reportedly contributed funds for officials.
“The PSC chairman said he was aware of what was obtainable in the past, where contributions were made by the candidates for interview and handed over to the supervising officials,” the statement noted.
Reaffirming its commitment to fairness, the commission stressed that the promotion process would now be strictly merit-based and subject to vacancy availability.
Police inspectors gearing up for the DSB interview are advised to focus on their competence and preparedness to earn their advancement.
