The Police Service Commission (PSC) is finalizing preparations for the 2025 recruitment of cadets and 30,000 constables into the Nigeria Police Force, as approved by President Bola Tinubu.
As part of efforts to ensure a credible, transparent recruitment process, PSC Chairman, retired Deputy Inspector General of Police Hashimu Argungu, led a high-level delegation to the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday, June 4, 2025.
During the visit, Rtd DIG Argungu sought collaboration with the NDPC to ensure the protection and integrity of applicant data and emphasized the importance of conducting thorough background checks.
“Data drives effective planning. To recruit credible Nigerians into the Police Force, we must know who we are recruiting,” Argungu said. “We are here to strengthen our recruitment process and request your support in accessing the necessary data.”
However, the PSC Chairman expressed concern over the Commission’s continued inability to access the database of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), a challenge he said hampers its constitutional mandate. He appealed to the NDPC to intervene and facilitate access to the NIMC data, which would enable proper verification of applicants’ identities.
In response, the National Commissioner of the NDPC, Dr. Vincent Olatunji, pledged to support the PSC’s recruitment drive. He assured the delegation that the NDPC would help secure the necessary data access while also training PSC staff on data protection protocols in line with international best practices.
Both agencies agreed to establish a joint committee to begin immediate work on data protection strategies for the recruitment exercise.