After years of public outcry, the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), has finally abolished a law that mandated the summary dismissal of unmarried female officers who became pregnant while in service.
An Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) Aishatu Baju, who confirmed the scrapping of the regulation during an interview on Wednesday, explained that every discriminatory sections of the Police Act, including Section 127, which was used to justify the dismissal of pregnant unmarried officers, had been removed in line with ongoing police reforms.
AIG Baju who is the most senior female officer in the Force, stated that the scrapping of the obnoxious law has been approved by the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, who has also introduced the Nigeria Police Gender Policy to ensure full inclusivity and equal opportunities for all officers.
“That section, along with any other part of the Police Act that discriminates against female officers, has been removed under the Police Act 2020,” AIG Baju said.
“The Inspector General of Police has also introduced the Nigeria Police Gender Policy to ensure full inclusivity and equal opportunities for all officers.”
She added that going forward, no unmarried female officer who gets pregnant will be dismissed, adding that with the latest reforms currently going on, the Force is committed to eliminating gender-based discrimination and fostering a more inclusive institution.
