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FG backs Nigeria Police Act amendment to guarantee at least 15% female representation and reform gender policies
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Measures include maternity leave, religious accommodation, grievance mechanisms, and dedicated monitoring of gender compliance
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Bill aims to improve policing outcomes, accountability, and public trust, particularly in handling gender-based violence
The Ministry of Police Affairs has endorsed the proposed amendment to the Nigeria Police Act, which seeks to reserve at least 15 percent of police recruitment for women and strengthen gender-related policies across the force.
Head of the ministry’s legal unit, Okorie Kalu, disclosed at a public hearing organised by the House Committee on Police Affairs that the ministry is implementing regulations to remove discriminatory enlistment criteria, including restrictions based on marital status, pregnancy, and gender-specific duty assignments.
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Other initiatives include integrating the NPF gender policy, establishing maternity leave, religious accommodations, equitable posting, grievance and complaint mechanisms, and a restructured IGP’s office incorporating human rights and women and children’s protection units. Kalu also urged for budget allocations for gender programmes and continuous training of officers on gender issues.
Speaker Abbas Tajudeen, represented by Hon. Nnamdi Ezechi, emphasised that increasing female representation is a matter of justice, fairness, and enhanced policing outcomes, particularly for leadership positions.
The committee chairman, Hon. Makki Yalleman, added that women in the police improve handling of domestic violence, sexual assault, and other gender-sensitive cases, noting that research shows institutions with higher female participation experience fewer incidents of excessive force and greater public trust.
The amendment also proposes establishing a dedicated unit within the police to maintain records and monitor compliance with gender-responsive policies, translating policy intentions into measurable outcomes.
