Police Recruitment: Women Affairs Minister Urges IG to Concede More Slots for Women

The Minister of Women Affairs, Dame Pauline Tallen, has urged the Inspector General of Police Usman Alkali Baba, to increase the number of women intake into the Nigerian Police in their next round of recruitment.

The Minister made the call, during an advocacy visit to the Inspector General of Police at the weekend in Abuja, where the IGP said the police under his supervision, will synergize with the ministry of women affairs for the realization of this appeal.

Tallen said her appeal for more women in the force would engender a better appreciation of gender-based issues especially at all commands of the Nigerian Police nationwide.

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She told the IGP “that the next recruitment should concede more slots to women and approve more gender training and engagements, for both male and female officers, for the purpose of improving the Police Force.”

Tallen commended the Nigeria Police Force for excelling at peacekeeping assignments, at both National and International spheres, especially when women police officers and ranks were deployed.

She submitted that the Nigerian Police-women have represented Nigeria well at such operations.

Tallen frowned at the Gender-Based Violence (GBV) statistics, as the data report showed only 15 cases of gender-based- violence (GBV) have been prosecuted and demanded that the Police should ensure quick prosecution of offenders in Nigeria.

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The Minister of Women Affairs, requested the review of the gender policy and endorsement of the training manual of the Nigeria Police, especially as it relates to gender policy and Standard Operational Practice (SOP).

When the Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba was responding, he expressed the readiness of the Nigeria Police Force to collaborate and synergize with the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs to promote gender equality.

Alkali informed the meeting that the Force has gender violence desk in all Commands and has women commanders in tactical commands citing that the present and first-ever women commissioners in volatile areas especially in Oyo and Anambra States and they are doing creditably well.

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The IGP explained that the delay in the prosecution of offenders of Gender-Based Violence was due to the painstaking investigations; the judicial process and lack of cooperation by other players involved in the Administration of Criminal Justice (ACJ).

The IGP suggested sustained advocacy, teaching, enlightenment, information sensitization on issues of Culture, Traditions, Norms and Values as those measures that can prevent gender-based violence and promised to align the police on any area where the current gender policy has errors.

Source: Tribune