HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT AND INTERNAL SECURITY: LINKING RECRUITMENT TO ETHICAL BEHAVIOR IN NIGERIA POLICE FORCE

This theoretical paper looks into the essential relationship between Human Resource Development (HRD) and internal security in Nigeria, with a focus on how recruitment practices in the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) influence officers' ethical behavior. Drawing on Systems Theory, the study develops an integrative model that links strategic recruitment and continuing HRD interventions to the formation of an ethical, accountable police force capable of strengthening national security. In light of widespread police misconduct, cases of brutality, extortion, harassment and the 2020 EndSARS protests, the paper advises that recruitment go beyond basic skills and incorporate assessments of integrity, emotional intelligence, and social responsibility. Furthermore, it emphasizes the importance of continual ethical development to maintain the moral standards of police personnel. This approach offers a comprehensive framework for reforming recruitment and HRD practices to build a more professional and ethically grounded police force in Nigeria.