To put a stop to the spate of clashes, killings and other security challenges facing the country, the Federal Government has given approval for the recruitment of 6,000 into the Nigeria Police Force.
This was disclosed by President Muhammadu Buhari in the United States during an interview on Voice of America.
“We will put in place more measures to check insecurity in the country, including increasing the number of policemen and training them. “I have approved the recruitment of 6,000 policemen by the Police authorities and I directed that those recruited must come from all the 774 local government areas of the federation.
“Even if it means recruiting one person each from the 774, they should do that instead of going to motor parks, railway stations or markets for the recruitment. I gave them (Police authorities) this directive,” President Buhari said.
On the issue of state police, the President said the idea is not feasible because some states are already finding it difficult to meet their financial obligations.
“We must carefully look at the position of the nation’s constitution on the issue of state police before we take the final decision on the matter; if the constitution allows state police, so be it. “But don’t forget that many times the Federal Government gave out what we referred to as bail-out to state governments for payment of workers’ salaries.
How many states can pay salaries promptly? And you want to add more financial burden to the states? “It is not proper to employ a person, train him on how to handle weapons and then refuse to pay him — you can imagine what would happen in such situation,” the President stressed.
