Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG), Aishatu Abubakar-Baju, has announced that the controversial laws mandating the dismissal of unmarried policewomen who become pregnant while in active service have been officially expunged from the Police Act and regulations. This landmark change is part of ongoing efforts to eliminate gender discrimination within the Nigeria Police Force.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Abubakar-Baju, the highest-ranking female officer in the Nigerian Police, made this revelation during a guest appearance on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief show on Wednesday. She confirmed that sections of the Police Act, including Section 127, which discriminated against women in the force, have been deleted. This follows the passing of the Police Act of 2020 and the police reform initiatives currently underway.
Addressing concerns raised about the case of Omolola Olajide, an unmarried police corporal in Ekiti State who was dismissed in 2021 for being pregnant, Abubakar-Baju emphasized that unmarried female police officers will no longer face dismissal for becoming pregnant during active service. “The IGP (Inspector General of Police) has just last year launched the Nigeria Police Gender Policy to ensure the complete eradication of any form of gender discrimination,” she explained. “I can tell you that the Nigeria Police has come of age, and the IG is intentional about inclusivity and ensuring the force is an equal opportunity institution.”
When specifically asked whether the police still dismiss unmarried policewomen who become pregnant, AIG Abubakar-Baju affirmed, “Yes,” highlighting the significant shift in policy.
The dismissal of Omolola Olajide in 2021 sparked widespread outrage, leading the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to take legal action. The NBA filed a lawsuit at the Federal High Court in Abuja, challenging the legality of Section 127 of the police regulations, but the court dismissed the suit for lacking merit. The court argued that officers were aware of the regulation before joining the force. However, undeterred by the lower court’s ruling, the NBA appealed the case to the Court of Appeal in Lagos. In May 2024, the appellate court overturned the judgment, declaring regulations 126 and 127 of the Nigeria Police Act, which permitted the dismissal of unmarried pregnant policewomen, as void.
This judicial decision, alongside the police reforms, marks a significant victory for gender equality within the Nigeria Police Force and aligns with broader efforts to foster a more inclusive and equitable police institution.
