2015 Police Recruitment: Regional balance delays release of results

Over a month since results of the 2015 recruitment exercise into the national security corps were expected to be released, officials of the General Delegation for National Security, DGSN, say they are still grappling with how to apportion the recruitment to reflect gov’t policy of regional balance.

The written phase of the recruitment exam took place in February this year and results were expected to be published in August. However, The Journal has gathered on good authority that DGSN officials want to publish the results in order of merit based on regional considerations.

According to DGSN sources, the regional balance policy will be applied from the level of the regions, to divisions and then to sub-divisions. We learnt for commissioners and superintendents, since there are 150 places and 350 places (100 for in-service and 250 for regular candidates) available respectively, the balance will be stroke at regional level. As for inspectors of police numbering 1200 (200 for in-service and 1000 for regular candidates), the balance will be maintained at the level of 58 divisions.

Meanwhile, for police constables with 3000 places, candidates will be recruited from the 358 sub-divisions of the country, DGSN sources maintained. The Delegate General for National Security, Martin Mbarga Nguele had promised that each sub-division, division and region was going to have its fair share of the 4700 places available. “Cameroon has to be represented in this recruitment exercise and all of us have to observe meritocracy,” Mbarga vowed in one of his outings.

Apart from the regional balance factor, it has emerged that lack of infrastructure is also accountable for the delay in the release of the results.

While in Bamenda recently on assignment, Mbarga disclosed that the capacity of police training centers in the country presently stands at 3000, while they have to simultaneously train some 4200 Cameroonian candidates as well as 200 others proposed by Equatorial Guinea.

“Where am I going to lodge them?” the Delegate General rhetorically questioned.

It should be noted that over 130,000 candidates are vying for the 4700 places available. The recruitment exercise is the first phase of a two year programme to recruit 9400 young Cameroonians into the public security force.