Ogun State government has called on the Nigeria Police Force to ensure that qualified candidates are shortlisted for recruitment into the force.

Secretary to Ogun State Government, Mr. Tokunbo Talabi, stated this while receiving the report of the ongoing Police recruitment exercise from the delegation from the Force headquarters, led by Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Ayotunde Omodeinde, as it affects the state.

Talabi decried the low enrolment of indigenes of the state in the exercise, saying, "Our administration is committed to giving our teeming youths more opportunity to better their lots and in turn, that of the state. This is one of the ways to engage them meaningfully for them to play their roles in nation-building. We urge you to formally carry us along in this process so that we will no longer be short-changed".

Speaking earlier, DCP Omodeinde said he has led the team comprising members of the Police Service Commission, Ministry of Police Affairs, Federal Character Commission and the Nigerian Police Force, to submit the report on the just concluded recruitment exercise.

Omodeinde said enrolment by Ogun indigenes, compared to other states, was not encouraging, with Ijebu East having the lowest figure, disclosing that, "the total number of applicants from Ogun state is 3,200 whereas, a state like Kaduna has 35,000. Apart from that, out of the number, 2,150 applicants participated in the exercise and from the figure, some local governments have very limited enrolment”.

DCP Omodeinde pointed out that about 75 applicants, who claimed to be indigenes were disqualified during the process, saying that criteria for the recruitment include, as well as obtaining introduction letters from the local and community chiefs, before being issued a certificate of Local Government of Origin, to checkmate impersonation.

He stated that the measures became imperative, as the new policy in the Police had mandated successful applicants to be posted to their various localities for effective policing, calling on community chiefs and stakeholders to desist from recommending unqualified candidates without considering other conditions like, height which is 1.67m for male, 1.64 feet for female; five credits in O'level, including English and Mathematics among others.

Some officials at the meeting included, Ogun State Commissioner of Police, Abiodun Alamutu, CSP Olabisi Okuwobi of the Police Force Headquarters and representative of the Federal Character Commission, Mr. Femi Ogunseye, among others.