The Former Inspector General of Police of Nigeria (IGP) Musiliu Smith has resigned as the Chairman Police Service Commission (PSC).

PSC spokesperson Ikechukwu Ani confirmed his resignation to The Nation.

Ani said Smith’s resignation was on health grounds and President Muhammadu Buhari has accepted it.

Accordiing to Ani: “Yes he resigned on his own on medical grounds and the President has accepted his resignation.’’

His resignation came amid the long disagreement between the Commission and the Nigeria Police Force on recruitment exercises.

Smith, whose tenure is scheduled to end on July 2023, served the Commission for over four years.

He was appointed as IGP in May 1999 and retired in March 2002 following a police strike.

Ani said an official statement on his resignation will be issued on Thursday. (The Nation).

A source at the commission said, Smith is expected to hand over to Retired Justice Clara Ogunbiyi representing the judiciary at the commission.

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 discard the notice, insisting that the recruitment process is the sole responsibility of the Force.