Abbas Backs 15% Quota for Women in Police, Calls for Gender-Responsive Reforms

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, has announced that the National Assembly is preparing major legislative adjustments aimed at removing barriers that prevent women from joining the Nigeria Police Force.

According to Abbas and officials from the Ministry of Police Affairs, revising the current Police Act has become necessary to expand opportunities for female recruitment. They stressed that increasing women’s participation in policing would strengthen the justice system and improve overall service delivery.

Addressing participants at a public hearing on a proposal to amend the Police Act, 2020, Abbas explained that the Bill seeks to reserve 15 percent of all police recruitment slots for women. The legislation would also require the Nigeria Police Force to implement a gender-responsive compliance framework covering recruitment, training, deployment, disciplinary processes, and career advancement.

The proposed amendment further calls for the establishment of a dedicated monitoring unit to track the integration of women into the force and ensure that the gender-inclusive policies are properly enforced.

Abbas emphasised that the initiative reflects a commitment to equity and acknowledges that policing is most effective when it draws from a diverse and representative workforce.

He said: “For too long, the Nigeria Police Force has operated with a disproportionately low representation of women, particularly in its leadership structure.

“This has not only limited opportunities for many capable women but also deprived the institution of the unique perspective and empathy that female officers bring to law enforcement and community relations.

“By increasing the participation of women in the force, we are not merely advancing the cause of gender equality; we are enhancing professionalism, deepening accountability, and improving the overall quality of policing in Nigeria.

“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.

“This amendment, therefore, aligns with the spirit and intent of our Constitution, as well as Nigeria’s international commitments under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 5, which emphasises gender equality and women’s empowerment.

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“It also reinforces our constitutional mandate as legislators to ensure that public institutions embody the principles of equity, justice, and good governance.

“However, it is obvious that legislation alone will not lead to the achievement of these goals. A way must be found to enforce implementation and sustained monitoring. To this end, this Bill provides for the establishment of a dedicated unit within the Nigeria Police Force to maintain records and assess compliance with gender-responsive policies.

“This will ensure that our good intentions are translated into measurable action and tangible results.

“Our goal is having a police force that mirrors the diversity of our nation, upholds fairness, and delivers justice without bias or discrimination.”

Chairman of the House Committee on Police Affairs, Abubakar Makki Yalleman, said the proposed amendment aims to boost female recruitment into the Nigeria Police Force by at least 15 percent and create a work environment in which women can flourish.

Yalleman explained that increasing women’s representation in the force would strengthen law enforcement’s ability to tackle crimes that disproportionately impact women, including domestic abuse and sexual violence.

According to him, female officers are often better positioned to manage such sensitive cases, offering victims a more comfortable and trusting atmosphere to come forward.

He further stated that expanding the number of women in the NPF would help build a culture rooted in inclusion and diversity, serving as motivation for young girls.

Yalleman added that this effort would signal to them that a career in policing is within reach and that they can play meaningful roles in promoting security and development in their communities and the nation at large.

He said: “We are aware that certain societal and cultural biases act as barriers to entry into the Force for women. This can be corrected through targeted outreach programmes and mentorship initiatives that will portray the Force in a good light.

“This amendment will prioritise the recruitment, promotion, and creation of friendly working environment for women. it will provide training schemes for women that will equip them with the requisite skills and knowledge they need to excel in the job.”

The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Police Affairs, Dr. Anyma Ogbonnaya Nlia, also expressed the ministry’s full backing for the proposed amendment Bill.

According to him, the legislation would resolve many of the long-standing challenges that hinder women from being recruited into the Nigeria Police Force.

Speaking through Okorie Kalu of the ministry’s Legal Unit, who represented him at the event, Nlia explained that the Bill would compel the NPF to implement a truly responsive compliance framework covering key areas such as recruitment, training, marital status policies, deployment, and disciplinary procedures.

He added that the amendment also provides for the creation of a dedicated unit responsible for monitoring and maintaining records related to the gender-responsive compliance programme.

Nlia further called for changes to Section 9, subsection 1F of the Police Act, 2020, to introduce provisions that address historical gender imbalances and eliminate discriminatory clauses affecting women in the police system.

Describing the amendment as a transformative opportunity for the NPF, the permanent secretary affirmed that the ministry fully supports the proposed changes.

He said: “The ministry has begun the process of making regulations to address gender issues in police force, particularly in the aspect of elimination of gender-based enlistment criteria, such as restrictions on marital status and pregnancy, removal of discriminatory duties assignment, duty assignment and dress code limitations.

“Integration of the NPF gender policy to ensure routine compliance; introduction of maternity leave, religious accommodation, and equitable posting policies; establishment of grievance and complaint mechanisms with oversight; reorganisation of the IGP’s office to include human rights, internal affairs, and women and Children’s Protection Centre.

“The amendment of the principal Act to include gender responsive provisions will be a life wire for the intended regulations to flow and be implemented seamlessly.”