6th March, 2022
Islam has crept into the Nigeria Police Force, with the new uniform code approved by the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, for female cops, especially muslims.
The dress code allows women to wear stud earrings and headscarf under their berets or peak caps as the case may be while in uniform.
The dress code was unveiled at the IGP’s meeting with Strategic Police Managers on March 3, 2022.
Photographs of the new uniform began circulating on Saturday. They indicate that the police establishment has bowed to Hijab advocates.
The National Coordinator of the Muslim Media Watch Group of Nigeria Alh. Abdullahi Ibrahim described the policy as the ‘ right step in the right direction.
According to the Group, the new improved dress code for women in the Police now ranked the Nigeria Police with its counterparts the world over, as fundamentals of human rights including evolving policies that carry along ‘all and sundry’ irrespective of religious, cultures and ethnic diversities is well respected internationally.
However, senior lawyer Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa said the dress code was a breach of the Nigerian constitution.
“The religion of public officers, including members of the security agencies, should be a private matter to them. The Inspector-General of Police is not competent to use the platform of his office to enforce religion”, Adegboruwa said.
“Section 10 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria stipulates that government and all its agencies should be neutral in religious matters.
“Section 42 of the same Constitution prohibits discrimination in all its ramifications. In this regard, there will be no end to confusion attending the new dress code prescribed by the IGP.
“What will be the official uniform for police women who are in the Catholic Church?
“How should policemen and women who are in the Celestial Church dress up when the practice of their church is against wearing shoes at all?
“And how should traditionalists who are in the police force dress up, with charms and amulets round their uniforms?
“The Nigeria Police has existed as an institution since 1945 and it is strange that of all the issues confronting that agency, such as low morale, poor welfare, poor infrastructure, poor training, poor welfare, etc, religious adornment should be the priority of the Inspector-General of Police.
“The police should focus on combating crime, improve citizens engagement and help guaranty safety of lives and property. The religious preferences of policemen and women should be their private matters”.
But Alkali, envisaging legal barbs like this said the dress code is optional.
“Senior Women Police Officers have been tasked by the IGP to ensure compliance with the approved standard for women police officers who have opted to adopt the dress code.
“The Inspector-General of Police noted that this development, which is in line with international best practices addresses the growing concern for gender mainstreaming and respect for culture and diversity”.
He noted that the Nigeria Police workforce has officers from every local government in the country with a variety of ethnic and religious backgrounds, and an increased inclusion of female folks.
“This therefore brings the need to guarantee inclusion, gender mainstreaming, ethnic and religious diversity in the work place for optimum output and professionalism.
“This has informed the improvement for effective global workforce diversity management.
“Other countries that have adopted same dress code include Canada, the United States of America, Sweden, Turkey, Australia and the United Kingdom amongst others”, the IGP claimed.