RECRUITMENT CRISIS: Police Service Commission chairman, Musiliu Smith, resigns
The Chairman of Police Service Commission (PSC), Musiliu Smith, has resigned from his position, according to reports late Wednesday.
It was gathered that the Board of the commission asked Smith to resign and he accepted.
Smith, a former inspector-general of police, is expected to hand over to Retired Justice Clara Ogunbiyi representing the judiciary at the commission.
Ikechukwu Ani, the spokesman for the commission, was said to have also confirmed the resignation, but said it was on health grounds.
The commission and the office of the inspector-general of police had been at loggerheads over which body has the right to conduct the recruitment into the Force.
The PSC had advertised recruitment for constables and urged interested applicants to visit its website to apply.
But the police in a statement urged members of the public to disregard the notice, insisting that the recruitment process is the sole responsibility of the Force.
Smith, has recently been engulfed in corruption allegations over the recruitment of constables.
A commissioner at the commission, Naja’atu Muhammad, petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) alleging multi-million-naira contract scam, mismanagement of resources and lack of due process in the management of the commission.
In the petition dated June 29, 2022, Mrs Muhammad, who represents the Northwest at the commission, alleged that the embattled chairman had arbitrarily awarded bogus contracts without following due process.
Some of the allegations contained in the petition are; award of N34,749,375 for the design and development of police e-recruitment portal for the commission.
Another contract payment of N36,228,453.90 to Wedewood Integrated Investment Limited as the final payment of less than 5% retention fee for the partitioning of office space, installation of wall panel and customised cabinet at the PSC head office building. with total contract sum at N447,473,613.00.
Mrs Mohammed also alleged in the petition that the Commission’s account No.2994350018 fraudulent transferred about N200 Million to Vita Construction between 9th April 2021 and 14th April 2021 in the tranches of N10 Million Naira for unknown reason.
Share your thoughts on the story RECRUITMENT CRISIS: Police Commission chairman, Musiliu Smith, resigns with Nigerian Sketch in the comments section