Following the ruling by Justice Inyang Ekwo over the dismissal of pregnant unmarried policewomen by the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigerian Feminist Forum (NFF) has condemned the verdict, saying it reinforces patriarchy, gender-based violence, systemic inequality and denies policewomen their rights.
NFF Communications Officer, Angela Nkwo made the disclosure in a statement on Tuesday.
They called on the Inspector General of Police to recall all suspended and dismissed policewomen on account of the discriminatory provision.
The statement, titled “Help, save Nigerian women in the Police, military, others from systemic inequality, human rights violation, and discrimination”, said the NFF received the ruling with shock.
According to the group, the ruling was saddening because it reinforced patriarchy, gender-based violence, systemic inequality and denied policewomen their rights even from the very temple of justice perceived to be the last hope of everyone.
While they commended the Nigerian Bar Association for instituting the suit, the feminist group maintained that the provisions of regulation 124, 125, and 127 of the Nigerian Police Force Regulations (NPFR) was in contradiction of the 1999 constitution.
The statement read: “It is regrettable that the NPFR stipulates a policewoman must secure permission from the State Commissioner of Police before she can get married to a partner of her choice and should be dismissed if pregnant but unmarried.
“Yet the same provision is quiet as it relates to men, which explains why many are promiscuous while in the service and having sexual relationships unhindered everywhere, including the rape of hapless suspects under custody unabatedly”.
The NFF maintained that every member of the Nigeria Police is an adult who must have attained the age of 18 years, but regretted that the NPFR placed restrictive clauses for women within the force.
“While it is assumed that every member of the Nigeria Police is an adult who must have attained the age of 18 years, the same NPFR contradicts this as it restricts women in the force.
“While a man is free, an unmarried policewoman is bound by regulation not to get pregnant, yet the force is perceived to be the enforcer of human rights”, the statement read.
The group also condemned the NPFR provision which limits the rights of Nigerian women to associate, have control over their own bodies (bodily autonomy), and whether or not to marry, saying” the NPFR provision is contrary to articles 2 and 13 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act and article 7 of the Convention of Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) to which Nigeria is a signatory”.
The feminist group held that the 1999 constitution was “greater than any institution, arm of government, formation, force or organization as well as all orders, laws, regulations, manual, training, signals and directives in Nigeria and even outside Nigeria.
“And, anything, action or directive even law, that contradicts the constitution is self-destructive and nullified. Since it has declared the equality of men and women, people must be treated equally as no gender, is greater than the other irrespective of religion and tradition”.
They said the rights of policewomen in Nigeria is violated by the provisions of the discriminatory regulation 124, 125, and 127 of the Nigerian Police Force Regulations (NPFR) and demanded they be expunged immediately.
They called on the National Assembly to immediately expunge the discriminations of the NPFR against policewomen and other military and uniform-wearing agencies.
Other demands made were that the Police Service Commission should immediately direct State Police Commissioners to stop all further human rights violations of women in the force as well as the inclusion of more women in decision-making levels of police formations.
The group lamented that while policewomen risked their lives in the protection of people and properties, it was worrisome that the very institution that may cost their lives cannot uphold their rights and allow them to express their rights just like their male colleagues.
Further, they said: “Marriage should be a choice and not forced, especially in the face of growing spousal and domestic violence, even as the Nigerian Feminist Forum notes that due to biological differences, women have limited time for child-bearing and the pressure of marriage to the burden of female police officer’s amounts to the gross human rights violation”.
