The Nigeria Police Force has eliminated regulations that previously required the dismissal of unmarried female officers who became pregnant while in service.
Assistant Inspector-General of Police Aishatu Baju, the most senior female officer in the Force, confirmed this development on Wednesday during an interview on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief.
Baju explained that all discriminatory sections of the Police Act, including Section 127, which was used to justify the dismissal of pregnant unmarried officers, have been removed as part of ongoing police reforms.
She said, “That section, along with any other part of the Police Act that discriminates against female officers, has been removed under the Police Act 2020.
“The Inspector General of Police has also introduced the Nigeria Police Gender Policy to ensure full inclusivity and equal opportunities for all officers.”
When asked directly whether unmarried female officers would still be dismissed if they became pregnant, Baju responded firmly, “No.”
The issue gained national attention in 2021 when police corporal Omolola Olajide was dismissed from the Force in Ekiti State after becoming pregnant.
The decision sparked widespread public outrage, leading the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to challenge the regulation in court.
Although the Federal High Court in Abuja upheld the dismissal, ruling that officers were aware of the regulation before joining the Force, the NBA pursued the case to the Court of Appeal in Lagos.
In May 2024, the appellate court nullified Sections 126 and 127 of the Nigeria Police Act, effectively ending the controversial policy.
With the latest reforms, Assistant Inspector-General of Police Aishatu Baju reaffirmed the Force’s commitment to eliminating gender-based discrimination and creating a more inclusive institution.
