Police reject SSSCE, third class graduates

Persons with Senior Secondary School Certificates, also known as ‘O’ level, will have to look elsewhere if they are seeking recruitments into the Nigeria Police Force.
This followed the decision reached on Monday by the Police Service Commission to disqualify those who have ‘O’ level from joining the police.
They normally enlist at the rank of constable.
According to the PSC, the minimum entry requirement has been scaled up to Ordinary National Diploma, also known as OND.
Also, the PSC said henceforth, Third Class degree holders would also not be considered for enlistment into the Cadet Inspectorate level of the Force.
According to the PSC Commissioner in charge of Public Affairs, Ms. Comfort Obi, the commission carried out the review in line with the transformation of the Nigeria police Force.
Obi said: “The mechanism put in place by the commission is in line with police regulations to ensure that bad eggs don’t find their way into the force.
“We are focusing on the recruitment process and have raised the minimum entry requirements.
“SSCE holders can no longer join the police as constables.
“Even a third class degree holder cannot join the Cadet Inspector cadre.
“The minimum qualification for a constable is OND and it must include six credit passes in SSCE, including credit pass in English and Mathematics.”
Other transformation agenda for the police force, according to Obi, will involve the use of polygraph tests on applicants to determine drug users, alcoholics and other bad eggs that will bring the Police Force into disrepute.
The Police Commissioner in charge of Strategy, Dr. Otive Igbuzor, added that written examinations will also be conducted for applicants, while recruitment will be on merit.
Igbuzor said: “Five hundred and ninety-nine cases of indiscipline were treated between 2008 and 2011.
“Ninety-four officers were compulsorily retired and a number of others were sanctioned for various offences.”