The Nigeria Police Force has officially scrapped a controversial regulation that allowed for the dismissal of unmarried female officers who became pregnant while in service.
Assistant Inspector-General of Police Aishatu Baju, the highest-ranking female officer in the Force, confirmed the development on Wednesday during an interview on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief.
Baju explained that all discriminatory provisions in the Police Act, including Section 127, which had been used to justify the dismissal of pregnant unmarried officers, had been removed as part of ongoing police reforms.
“That section, along with any other part of the Police Act that discriminates against female officers, has been removed under the Police Act 2020,” she said.
She also noted that the Inspector General of Police had introduced a Nigeria Police Gender Policy to promote inclusivity and equal opportunities for all officers.
When asked if unmarried female officers would still face dismissal for pregnancy, Baju responded unequivocally, “No.”
The policy had come under intense scrutiny in 2021 after a police corporal, Omolola Olajide, was dismissed in Ekiti State for becoming pregnant.
The decision sparked widespread outrage, leading the Nigerian Bar Association to challenge the regulation in court.
Although the Federal High Court in Abuja initially upheld the dismissal, ruling that officers were aware of the rule 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 policy.
With this latest reform, Baju reaffirmed the Force’s commitment to eliminating gender-based discrimination and fostering a more inclusive work environment for all officers.
