The Inspector General of Police (IGP) Alkali Baba Usman has assured that no female police officer in police barracks across the country will be ejected for residing with their civilian spouses.
The IGP gave the assurance while reacting to a signal purportedly originating from the Enugu State Police Command, that women police personnel occupying barracks accommodation with their civilian husbands should vacate before January 31, 2022.
Usman, who expressed anger about the “directive”, described it as unlawful, discriminatory, obnoxious, reprehensive and out of tune with the concept of equality in Nigeria’s Constitution.
He noted that the “directive” was not in line with the Force Gender Policy, which institutionalises gender mainstreaming as a core value in the Nigeria Police Force.
A statement last night by the Force spokesman Frank Mba, a Commissioner of Police (CP), said the IGP stressed that a police force that has produced several top-ranking, successful female officers, including Deputy Inspectors General of Police (DIGs), Assistant Inspectors General of Police (AIGs), Commissioners of Police, Area Commanders, Divisional Police Officers ( ), eminent spokespersons, an Olympic gold medalist, amongst others, would not walk such a retrogressive path.
The IGP, the statement said, had ordered the Force Provost Marshal to carry out immediate investigations into the viral document and ensure disciplinary action against any person(s) found wanting.
He urged members of the public, particularly female police officers and their families who might have become disturbed by the directive, to ignore the same.
Usman insisted that the directive was illegal, null and void, and of no effect.
The IGP assured all that the Force remained committed to advancing the general well-being, rights, and privileges of its personnel, irrespective of rank or gender.
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