By Mercy Aikoye
The Ministry of Police Affairs supports a proposed amendment to the Nigeria Police Act. The amendment seeks 15% female representation in police recruitment.
The Head of the Legal Unit, Okorie Kalu, expressed support at a public hearing. “The ministry is initiating new regulations to eliminate discriminatory criteria,” he said.
New rules include removing marital status and pregnancy restrictions. Gender-based duties and dress codes will also be abolished.
A dedicated unit will be established to track gender-responsive policies. Speaker Abbas Tajudeen said, “This bill provides for a dedicated unit to maintain records and assess compliance.”
Increasing female police officers is a matter of justice and fairness. “By increasing women’s participation, we enhance professionalism and accountability,” Speaker Abbas said.
The Committee Chairman, Hon. Makki Yalleman, highlighted the benefits of increased female representation in the police force. “Research consistently shows that police institutions with stronger female representation record fewer incidents of excessive force, handle cases of gender-based violence more effectively, and generally enjoy greater public trust,” he said.
The ministry and House of Representatives will work together to pass the bill. The goal is to strengthen policing outcomes, especially in cases involving women and children.
