Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Ebunoluwa Adegboruwa, has urged the Nigeria Police Force to focus more on its primary responsibility of combating crime.

His statement follows an announcement by the police of a new dress code for female personnel in Nigeria.

Spokesperson for the Nigeria Police Force, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, in a statement said, the “new and improved” dress code would now allow female police officers to wear stud earrings.

Adejobi added that the female police officers would also be permitted to wear headscarves under their berets or peak caps while in uniform.

Reacting in a statement on Saturday, Adegboruwa said the new dress code was illegal and should be reversed immediately.

He argued that the religious preferences of police officers should be a private matter, adding that the current IGP was using the platform to enforce his religion.

The statement reads,

On March 4, 2022, the Inspector-General of Police purported to unveil a new dress code for the Nigeria Police Force, especially female officers, who are to be allowed to wear coverings or hijab, etc.

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.

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.

Justin Nwosu

Justin Nwosu is the founder and publisher of Flavision. His core interest is in writing unbiased news about Nigeria in particular and Africa in general. He’s a strong adherent of investigative journalism, with a bent on exposing corruption, abuse of power and societal ills.