The Nigeria Police Force will no longer dismiss unmarried officers who become pregnant.
This was according to Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG), Aishatu Abubakar-Baju.
Speaking on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Wednesday, Baju confirmed that Section 127 and other discriminatory provisions in the Police Act and regulations have been removed.
“This Section 127 and any section of the Police Act and regulation that has gender discrimination have been expunged, looking at the Police Act of 2020 and the police reform that is currently going on,” she said.
The decision follows the controversial 2021 dismissal of an unmarried police corporal, Omolola Olajide, in Ekiti State after she became pregnant.
Her removal sparked widespread outrage, prompting the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to challenge the legality of Section 127 at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
However, in February 2022, the court dismissed the suit for lacking merit, ruling that affected officers were aware of the regulation before joining the Force.
Baju emphasized that the service is committed to eliminating gender discrimination, citing recent reforms and policies aimed at promoting inclusivity.
“The IGP (Inspector General of Police) has just last year launched the Nigeria Police Gender Policy just to make sure that there is complete eradication of any form of gender discrimination.
“I can tell you that the Nigeria Police has come of age, and the IG is intentional about inclusivity and making sure that the Nigeria Police is an equal opportunity institution,” she added.
