From Charity Nwakaudu, Abuja
Ensuring gender equality within paramilitary organizations is vital, but women in the Nigerian paramilitary sector face challenges stemming from discriminatory laws.
These laws, influenced by societal norms and customs, hinder women’s enlistment and progression in service.
Nigerian women should be encouraged to join paramilitary organizations to enhance law enforcement and security. However, some existing laws have led to grievances, primarily due to the patriarchal nature of society influenced by religion and tradition.
For example, Regulations 126 and 127 of the Nigeria Police Force states that unmarried female officers who become pregnant will be discharged and can only be re-enlisted with the approval of the Inspector General of Police.
Additionally, Regulation 124 requires female police officers to seek permission from the commissioner of police before getting married.
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) states the importance of gender balance in police accountability structures, which emphasized that women’s inclusion enhances public trust and oversight responsiveness.
Call for Reform:
Female personnel within the Nigerian paramilitary sector lament these laws, which discourage women from joining the force due to unjust restrictions. These regulations also lead to fear of spousal disapproval during formal interviews.
A female personnel, Joy Opke who spoke with our correspondence explained that several female officers have expressed concerns on these laws, citing the restriction on marriage and pregnancy as a barrier to their careers.
She calls for the amendment of these policies to support the growths and wellbeing of the women within their professions.
There is need for the establishment of gender-exclusive departments to address women’s issues and advocate for the creation of daycare facilities within commands. This would support nursing mothers in service.”
The stringent laws governing marriage and pregnancy dissuade potential female officers from joining the paramilitary sector. These restrictions pose a significant challenge to the recruitment process.
She urged government to review these laws, which adversely affect women. These laws have forced some women to lie about their marital status, resulting to broken homes and exposing them to dangers.
Another officer, Faith Ameh who lamented that their profession is tagged to prostitution appealed to the authority to review the law on the duration for a female officers to get married after joining the service in other not to discourage the female forks from joining the system.
” The law by some agencies that all female applicants should be unmarried at the point of entry have affected alot of women, some had to lie that they are single just to join the force which had led to divorce in some cases.
“I think this law should be amended because if the married men can join why the discrimination against women”
She also encouraged female personnel to be strong and and stop listening to side talks, Lets learn to use this great opportunity to tell the Ministry of Women Affairs to please come into the matters of Gender Based violence and harassment of what ever kind we face while looking for our daily bread.
“They should put in place policies that will protect women and ensure that we grow in our jobs, careers, businesses and endeavours”
Also an anonymous female Road Safety officer lamented that most opportunities like departmental postings for female officers were mostly done based on favoritism
Acccording to her, most female officers are on daily basis harassed by there male superiors” we face alot of harassment in service, especially when it comes to posting. I have friends that experienced it and I did too but those that are closed to the superiors get their wishes.”
Meanwhile, most female officers have refused to share their experiences but have called for certain considerations and facilities to be provided to motivate and encourage female officers to remain in service and for applicants to seek enlistment.
“They also demanded for the establishment of gender exclusive desk or departments to handle female matters, establishment of standard crèches (Daycare for children) in their various commands and other directorate responsible for mothers and children to boost productivity for nursing mothers in service.
A lady that works in one of the fuel stations around kubwa FCT, Amina Ibrahim who loved the police force added that she was told about the three years duration before marriage and pregnancy, and had to step down.
“We were about to wed when they did that last recruitment. I have prepared my mind and everything to join the force because that was my dream job and I have people there that could help facilitate it but I was told the law guilding marriage and pregnancy and I related to my husband to be then, he told me to choose between him and the job. That was how my ambition ended”
“I think they should do something about this law, if not, we will continue to have lesser women in the force which is not good for a country like ours.
Similarly a business woman popularly known as lady B said Nigerian paramilitary would continue to lack female officers if some of their laws are not reviewed.
“I can not allow any of my daughters to join in them because of some of their laws. In this our present generation where to get married is difficult, emphasized that duration and conditions tied to female officers should be abolished. Women are like flowers they work with time”
A senior-ranking male officer who does not want his name on print, explained that these laws are not discriminatory but are in place to protect officers due to the sensitive nature of the job.
“This investigation is for the GENDER, THE AGENDA project of Gender Strategy Advancement International (GSAI) supported by the Wole Soyinka Center for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ), and the MacArthur Foundation”.