The Police Service Commission (PSC) said over 550, 000 applicants have indicated interest to be recruited into the Nigerian Police Force.

This was disclosed by the Chairman of the PSC, Mr. Mike Okiro in a meeting with the Senate Committee on Police.

However, Mr Okiro, explained that only ten thousand spaces are available.

Also speaking at the meeting, the Inspector General of Police, Mr Solomon Arase said only credible applicants would be recruited into the police force.

Lawmakers in the House of Representatives had earlier said that there is need to adhere to federal character provisions in the recruitment of the 10,000 new policemen nationwide as recently directed by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The lawmakers urged the Police Service Commission, Ministry of Police Affairs and the Nigerian Police Force to ensure an allotment of ten slots to each of the 768 local government areas and six area councils of the Federal Capital Territory.

President Muhammadu Buhari warned last year Abuja that he will not tolerate any irregularities or extortion of money from unemployed Nigerians in the coming recruitment into the police.

At a meeting with officials of the Ministry of Police Affairs and the Police Service Commission in the Presidential Villa, President Buhari said that applicants having to pay bribes before being accepted into the police in the past was totally unacceptable.

The President told the officials that those in charge of recruitment and training in the Police must be above board and eschew every form of extortion and underhand dealing.

“You must ensure that the recruitment process is transparent. Those who will conduct the recruitment must be above board. It should not be heard that they receive gratification or extort money from those who want to enlist in the police,” President Buhari cautioned.

The President also directed the Inspector-General of Police to prune down the number of policemen attached to dignitaries, and redeploy all policemen withdrawn from that role to regular police duties.