Police Commission disowns police academy admission advert

The Police Service Commission (PSC) has distanced itself from a recently circulated advertisement announcing the commencement of admissions into the 12th Regular Course Degree Programmes of the Nigeria Police Academy, Wudil, Kano State.

In a statement released on Thursday, the Commission condemned the advertorial, which it described as a clear violation of constitutional procedures, emphasising that it was not consulted and that the announcement lacked necessary input from key stakeholders.

The advert had stated that the online application would be open from July 28 to September 8, 2025, but the PSC said the publication was an “undisguised attempt to undermine the Commission,” which has the constitutional authority to recruit into the Nigeria Police Force, including through the Academy.

Referencing the Court of Appeal judgement in PSC v. Inspector-General of Police & 3 ors and the subsequent affirmation by the Supreme Court, the Commission reaffirmed its exclusive mandate to appoint persons into the Police Force.

“The Commission will continue to resist and condemn any action by any person, body or authority that contravenes the provisions of the Constitution,” the statement read.

The PSC noted that recruitment into the police should be a collaborative effort involving the Ministry of Police Affairs, Federal Character Commission, and the Nigeria Police Force, warning that failure to include these stakeholders opens the door to corruption, nepotism, and other irregularities.

It also criticised the process introduced by the Police Academy, describing it as “chaotic, confusing and deliberately designed to create room for corruption.”

The Commission further condemned the imposition of a ₦6,000 application fee on candidates, stating that the recruitment exercise should be entirely free.

Moreover, the PSC frowned at the decision to centralise the screening process in Kano, insisting it placed unnecessary burden on applicants and could trigger avoidable crises due to the logistical and financial strain it imposes on candidates and their families.

The Commission reiterated its commitment to aligning police recruitment processes with global best practices, transparency, and equity in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

Consequently, the PSC declared the advertisement null and void and urged the public to disregard it entirely, stressing that the Commission would not be held accountable for any actions arising from the unauthorized publication.