The Nigeria Police Force has abolished a controversial regulation that previously allowed the dismissal of unmarried female officers who became pregnant while in service.
Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) Aishatu Baju, the highest-ranking female officer in the Force, confirmed this development on Wednesday during an interview on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief.
Baju stated that all discriminatory sections of the Police Act, including Section 127, which was used to justify the dismissal of unmarried pregnant officers, had been removed as part of ongoing police reforms.
“That section, along with any other part of the Police Act that discriminates against female officers, has been removed under the Police Act 2020,” she said.
She also noted that the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) had introduced the Nigeria Police Gender Policy to promote equal opportunities and full inclusivity for all officers.
When asked if unmarried female officers could still be dismissed for pregnancy, Baju responded firmly, “No.”
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Controversial Law Sparked Outrage
The issue gained national attention in 2021 when a female police corporal, Omolola Olajide, was dismissed from the Force in Ekiti State after she became pregnant.
The dismissal sparked public outrage, with many Nigerians calling the policy discriminatory. The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) challenged the regulation in court, arguing that it violated the constitutional rights of female officers.
Although the Federal High Court in Abuja upheld the dismissal, stating that officers were aware of the regulation before joining the Force, the NBA pursued the case to the Court of Appeal in Lagos.
In May 2024, the appellate court nullified Sections 126 and 127 of the Police Act, effectively putting an end to the policy.
Police Committed to Gender Equality
With the latest reforms, Baju reaffirmed that the Nigeria Police Force is now committed to eliminating gender-based discrimination.
“The Inspector-General has taken significant steps to ensure the police are inclusive and that both male and female officers have equal rights,” she said.
The scrapping of this controversial law is seen as a major victory for gender equality in Nigeria’s security sector.