Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and Recruitment Process in Public Organizations: A Study of Nigeria Police Force, Ebonyi State Command

Abstract

The importance of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in the recruitment process cannot be underestimated. That explains why organizational human resources managers, the Nigeria Police Force inclusive, have integrated it into the all-important exercise. Therefore, this study examined the effect of application of ICT on recruitment process in the public sector organizations with particular reference to the Nigeria Police Force, Ebonyi State Command. The study was anchored on Technological Determinism theory espoused by Thorstein Veblen (1857-1929). The study adopted descriptive survey design with a sample size of 400. Data were generated through structured questionnaire designed in 5 Likert scale. Chi-square inferential statistics were used to test the formulated hypotheses. The study revealed among others – that the use of online recruitment platform has significantly facilitated teeming qualified citizens’ access to job openings in the Nigeria Police Force, Ebonyi State Command; that the use of online recruitment portal has significantly enhanced appointment of competent staff in the Nigeria Police Force, Ebonyi State Command. The implication of the findings is that the adoption of ICT without human manipulations is key to institutionalization of meritocracy in the exercise. The study recommended as follows among others – that the Nigeria Police Force should ensure sustenance of the use of ICT in the recruitment process so as to attract qualified candidates to the security outfit; that the use of ICT should be given free hand during the recruitment exercise in order to facilitate emergence of most competent and skillful candidates.