The Police Service Commission (PSC) has warned Nigerians against a fake shortlist of candidates for medical examination currently circulating on social media, insisting that no such list has been released for the ongoing police recruitment exercise.
The Commission described the document as false, unauthorised and intended to mislead applicants participating in the recruitment process for the Nigeria Police Force.
In a statement issued on Monday and signed by the Head of Protocol and Public Affairs of the Commission, Ikechukwu Ani, the PSC said its attention had been drawn to the fake publication being shared across various social media platforms.
According to the Commission, the list claiming to contain the names of candidates selected for medical examination did not originate from the PSC and should be disregarded by members of the public.
“The attention of the Police Service Commission has been drawn to a fake list currently circulating on social media, purporting to be a shortlist of candidates scheduled for medical examination,” the statement said.
The Commission explained that the recruitment process has not reached the stage where candidates would be invited for medical screening, adding that officials are still concluding the evaluation of the written examination conducted for applicants.
It stated that successful candidates would be officially notified once the assessment process is completed and approved.
“The evaluation of the written examination is still at its concluding stage, and invitation for medical examination will be communicated to successful applicants in the coming days,” the PSC said.
The Commission further clarified that all candidates who qualify for the next stage of the recruitment exercise would receive information through approved communication channels. These include email messages, text messages, the official recruitment portal and other recognised PSC platforms.
The warning comes amid growing concerns over the activities of fraudsters who often take advantage of major recruitment exercises in government agencies to deceive job seekers. Such individuals usually circulate fake lists, unofficial notices and fraudulent payment requests in an attempt to exploit desperate applicants.
The PSC advised candidates not to rely on information obtained from unofficial sources and urged them to verify every update through the Commission’s approved communication channels.
It stressed that all information relating to the recruitment exercise would be released only through verified PSC platforms and official announcements.
The Commission also reiterated its commitment to ensuring that the recruitment process remains transparent, credible and based strictly on merit.
According to the PSC, recruiting competent and qualified personnel is critical to improving the effectiveness, professionalism and operational capacity of the Nigeria Police Force.
The Commission noted that the quality of officers recruited into the Force has a direct impact on policing standards, public confidence and the overall fight against crime across the country.
The ongoing police recruitment exercise is part of efforts by the Federal Government and security agencies to strengthen the manpower of the Nigeria Police Force. Over the years, the Force has faced challenges relating to personnel shortages, increasing security threats and the need for improved policing across Nigeria’s growing population.
Successive governments have therefore embarked on periodic recruitment exercises aimed at filling manpower gaps and enhancing the operational capabilities of the police.
However, such recruitment exercises have often attracted fraudulent activities, with scammers targeting applicants through fake websites, forged documents and misleading messages. In some cases, unsuspecting candidates have been tricked into paying money with promises of securing employment or gaining access to recruitment lists.
To prevent such incidents, the PSC reminded applicants that the ongoing recruitment exercise is completely free at every stage.
The Commission highlighted that candidates are not expected to pay any fee for registration, screening, examinations, medical tests or any other aspect of the recruitment process.
“The ongoing recruitment exercise is completely FREE at all stages,” the Commission stated.
It therefore urged applicants to ignore anyone demanding money or claiming to have influence over the recruitment process.
The PSC warned that individuals seeking to manipulate candidates through fake information or financial demands are fraudsters whose activities should be reported to the appropriate authorities.
The Commission also appealed to members of the public to help combat misinformation by verifying recruitment-related information before sharing it on social media or other communication platforms.
Many applicants have been anxiously awaiting updates following the written examination stage of the recruitment exercise, making them vulnerable to false information and online scams.
The PSC assured candidates that there is no need for panic, stressing that the recruitment process is progressing according to schedule.
It encouraged applicants to remain patient and await official communication regarding the next stage of the exercise.
The Commission reaffirmed its determination to conduct a fair, transparent and merit-based recruitment process that will produce qualified officers capable of serving the nation effectively.
For now, applicants have been advised to disregard the fake shortlist circulating online and rely only on information released directly by the Police Service Commission through its verified channels.