The Nigeria Police Force is the apex security agency designated by Section 194 of the 1979 constitution and established as provided in section 214 of the 1999 Nigerian constitution. It is charged with preserving law and order by preventing, detecting, and investigating crime to apprehend and prosecute offenders. The Nigerian police further has the responsibility to create a police-friendly environment that showcases its motto: “Police is your Friend,” upholds the constitutional rights of citizens, and act as a human rights monitor, among performing other duties specified by the Constitution.
Its mandate is to make Nigeria a safer place for its citizens and legal residents to boost economic growth and development, to ensure political stability, and create a friendly environment for everyone. To do this, the force partners with other security outfits to share intelligence and information to make society a safer place for its citizens and legal residents.
The Nigeria Police Force is a large organization that is structured into several departments, which include administration, investigation, training, planning, research, logistics, armory, and operations. There are 36 State Commands that are grouped into 12 zones and 7 administrative organs. The Inspector-General of Police (IGP) is the head of the force and is mandated to effectively administer the organization and advice the President on security matters.
All the Ranks Available in the Nigeria Police Force
There are currently fourteen (14) ranks available in the Nigeria Police Force. They include:
- Constable
- Lance Corporal
- Corporal
- Sergeant
- Sergeant Major
- Inspector of Police
- Assistant Superintendent of Police
- Chief Superintendent of Police
- Assistant Commissioner of Police
- Deputy Commissioner of Police
- Commissioner of Police
- Assistant Inspector-General of Police
- Deputy Inspector-General of Police
- Inspector General
Salary Structure of the Nigeria Police Force
In 2010, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan reviewed the salary structure of the Nigerian Police Officers. Below is what each officer at different ranks earn.
S/N | RANK | MONTHLY SALARY
N |
ANNUAL SALARY
N |
|
Police Recruit | 9, 019 | 108, 228 |
2. a | Police Constable Grade level 03 | 43, 293 | 519, 525 |
b | Police Constable Grade level 10 | 49, 113 | 613, 313 |
3. a | Police Corporal on Grade level 4 (1) | 44, 715 | 536, 583 |
b | Police Corporal on Grade level 4 (10) | 51, 113 | 613, 363 |
4. a | Police Sergeant on Grade level 5 (1) | 48, 540 | 582, 490 |
b | Police Sergeant on Grade level 5 (10) | 55,973 | 671, 686 |
5. a | Sergeant Major on Grade Level 6 (1) | 55, 144 | 661, 737 |
b | Sergeant Major on Grade Level 6 (10) | 62, 204 | 746, 458 |
6. a | Cadet Inspector in Grade Level 7 (1) | 73, 231 | 878, 778 |
b | Cadet Inspector in Grade Level 7 (10) | 87, 135 | 1, 045, 628 |
7. a | Assistant Superintendent of Police on Grade Level 8 (1) | 127, 604 | 1, 531, 256 |
b | Assistant Superintendent of Police on Grade Level 8 (10) | 144, 152 | 1, 729, 824 |
8. a | Assistant Superintendent of Police on Grade Level 9 (1) | 136, 616 | 1, 729, 824 |
b | Assistant Superintendent of Police on Grade Level 9 (10) | 156, 318 | 1, 875, 820 |
9. a | Deputy Superintendent of Police on Grade Level 10 (1) | 148, 733 | 1, 784, 799 |
b | Deputy Superintendent of Police on Grade Level 10 (10) | 170, 399 | 2, 044, 796 |
10. a | Superintendent of Police on Grade Level 11 (1) | 161, 478 | 1, 973, 739 |
b | Superintendent of Police on Grade Level 11 (10) | 187, 616 | 2, 251, 400 |
11. a | Chief Superintendent of Police on Grade Level 12 (1) | 172, 089 | 2, 065, 068 |
b | Chief Superintendent of Police on Grade Level 12 (10) | 199, 723 | 2, 396, 587 |
12. a | Assistant Commissioner of Police on Grade Level 13 (1) | 183, 185 | 2, 198, 228 |
b | Assistant Commissioner of Police on Grade Level 13 (10) | 212, 938 | 2, 555, 257 |
13. a | Deputy Commissioner of Police on Grade Level 14 (1) | 242, 715 | 1, 912, 587 |
b | Deputy Commissioner of Police on Grade Level 14 (7) | 278, 852 | 2, 346, 233 |
14. a | Commissioner of Police on Grade Level 15 (1) | 266, 777 | 3, 201, 333 |
b | Commissioner of Police on Grade Level 15 (6) | 302, 970 | 3, 635, 645 |
15. | Assistant Inspector General of Police | 499, 751 | 5, 997, 022 |
16. | Deputy Inspector General of Police | 546, 572 | 6, 556, 872 |
17. | Inspector-General of Police | 711, 498 | 8, 537, 976 |
Other Incentives Enjoyed By Police Officers
The welfare conditions of the Nigerian Police are not encouraging, and this has had a direct impact on the level of their performance in maintaining law and order in a populous country like Nigeria. However, officers of the Nigerian Police enjoy some incentives and allowances, which are not restricted to the following;
- The improved working condition of 8 hours work time per day, which is reasonable compared with up to 12 hours previously required by officers due to lack of personnel.
- Allowances are paid promptly and extra cash while on special duty.
- Special holiday bonus.
- Building new barracks and maintaining pre-existing ones to promote better housing facilities.
- Improved medical facilities and good facilities for sanitation, leisure, recreation, and utility in the barracks. It is said that a well-housed mind is a well-motivated mind.
- Utilizing advanced technology and equipment like safety gears and kits, and advanced communication apparatus for safety purposes.
- A well-reformed police legal system to ensure the rights of officers are not infringed.
- Establishment of a Police Community Relations Commission to address arising issues that affect the safety and well being of officers.
- Partnering with tertiary institutions to encourage officers to further their education so they can qualify for promotions when due.
- Promoting officers duly and justly.
- Establishing the Police Wives Association of Nigeria (POWA) to provide welfare services and engage the wives of officers to encourage them to support their husbands and not be sit-at-home wives.
- Inclusion of officers in the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) to cover their medical liabilities.
- Constantly evaluating officers to detect early signs of mental or physical fatigue.
How The Nigeria Police Rank Structure Works
The rank structure of the Nigerian Police is provided for in Section 214 (20) (a) and 215 2 of the Nigerian. The Agency is commanded by the Inspector General of Police who reports directly to the President. However, the structure can be categorized into three:
1. Command Structure
This is the power structure where orders, directives, and instructions are issued. It flows down from the Inspector General (IG) through the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) to the State Commissioners and then to the Divisional Police Officers (DPO). Every rank under the IG takes orders from the DIG. The Assistant Inspector General acts on behalf of the IG when the IG or DIG is not present.
2. Administrative Structure
The Nigerian Police is structured into seven 7 departments, each charged with peculiar duties that are interwoven. They include;
- Administration
- Operations
- Logistics and supply
- Investigation and Intelligence
- Training and Command
- Office of the Force Secretary, and
- Information and Communications Technology
3. Organizational structure
The agency is organized in line with the geo-political zones of the Federation. The organizational structure is shown as thus;
- Force Headquarters
- Zonal Headquarters
- State Command Headquarters
- Divisional Police Headquarters
- Police Station
- Police Post and
- Village Police Post.
This system is structured so the populace will benefit from the efforts of our peacemakers. Each organizational structure has a head that supervises and carries out instructions issued by the apex ruling body.
Promotion of Police Officers
Promotions in the Nigeria Police Force are based on merit, recognition of a hierarchy, fairness, educational qualifications, and years of service. Promotions are carried out yearly and chronologically in order. However, criteria for promotion from rank to rank include, but are not restricted to the following;
- Served a minimum of three years in a respective position.
- Passed the required interview.
- Pass the necessary promotion examination.
- Be of unquestionable integrity, professionally knowledgeable, zealous, and proficient in the discharge of duties.
- Have a good Annual Performance Evaluation Report (APER).
- Have no pending disciplinary action of gross misconduct, rape, arson, torture, or extrajudicial execution.
- Maintain a clean slate for twelve months to the promotion exercise.
- Must have attended and passed an “A” “B” “C” or Detective course with a minimum of 60% average.
- Subject to the availability of vacancy.
How To Join The Nigeria Police Force
You can be an officer of the Nigerian Police Force should you have the following qualifications:
- Be a citizen of Nigeria
- Must be psychologically and physically fit
- Have the minimum educational qualifications of not less than 5 credits for not more than two sittings i.e. WAEC, NECO or NABTEB
- Have any of the accepted identification cards i.e. National Identification Card, Drivers License, International Passport, or Voters Card.
- Have a valid guarantor
- Have a birth certificate or declaration of age from the court of law
- Must weigh between 63 – 81 Kg
- Must be between the age of 18 and 25 years except stated otherwise
- Be 1.67m tall (male) and 1.6.4m tall (female)
- Must have no medical issues
- Must not be less than 86cm (34 inches) for chest expansion
- Female candidates must not be pregnant during the screening exercise
Note: Applications can only be carried out when there are vacancies.
How To Apply
To apply, prospective candidates should visit the Nigeria Police Force website – www.policerecruitment.gov.ng which has a portal for recruitment. While here, carefully fill out the registration form. You are required to enter your National Identity Number (NIN) among other required details. You will also be required to upload scanned copies of your O’Level results, birth certificate, and certificate of origin.
Here is a step by step procedure for candidates applying to join the police force
- Fill out and submit the form.
- You will receive an email confirming your registration; You are required to print out this mail and also save your registration number.
- If you get shortlisted for the recruitment, you will need to provide the printout.
- The shortlisted candidate would then be invited for physical screening. This exercise usually takes place at all state commands in the country.
- Successful candidates from here would then be invited for training.
Joining The Force Through Police Academy
The police academy which is located in Wudil, Kano state, offers a platform where police hopefuls go through a five-year training course. It is like a police tertiary institution where one equally picks a discipline to study. To join the academy, one must have completed their secondary school education and also must have undergone the UTME examination.
The following steps are to be taken by individuals who want to join the force through the police academy.
- After sitting for the JAMB exam, visit the police academy website – www.polac.edu.ng and generate your Remitta Retrieval Reference.
- Go to any commercial bank and pay the given sum of money (this usually falls above N1000) through the invoice.
- Go back to the website and complete the registration. You will then be required to choose a location for the examination, print the exam card, and the acknowledgment form.
- Proceed to write the examinations at the selected location. The candidate will be invited for an interview if they are successful at the examination.
- Afterward, names of successful candidates will be published on a National Newspaper