Police Act amendment: CISLAC urges N/Assembly to adopt 30% female representation in Police Force

…Lauds ICPC over conviction of UNICAL Dean for sexual harassment

By Editor

The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), Transparency International –Nigeria, has urged the National Assembly to raise the proposed women’s recruitment quota in the Nigeria Police Act (Amendment) Bill from 15% to a minimum of 30%, in line with the African Union and ECOWAS benchmarks on gender inclusion in security sector governance.

The National Policy of Women, adopted in 2000, recommended a 30% reservation for women in appointments.

Executive Director of CISLAC, Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, made the submission during the Public Hearing organised by the House Committee on Police Affairs at the National Assembly on Monday.

He was represented by the organisation’s Senior Programme Officer, Gimba Suleiman Hassan, Esq.

In its presentation, CISLAC reiterated that a 30% benchmark is not only globally recognised as the minimum threshold for meaningful representation but a necessary corrective to decades of structural exclusion of women in policing. The organisation emphasised that women currently constitute less than 11% of the Nigeria Police Force, a figure far below regional and international standards for inclusive policing.
CISLAC’s recommendation was met with applause from stakeholders at the hearing, with several panel members expressing willingness to consider a compromise starting point of 20%.
The organisation welcomed the openness of the Committee and encouraged lawmakers to be bold and progressive in adopting stronger gender reforms.
During the hearing, the Head of the Legal Unit at the Federal Ministry of Police Affairs, Mr Okorie Kalu, announced that the Ministry is developing new Police Regulations to eliminate discriminatory criteria.
The new rules, he stated, will remove marital and pregnancy restrictions, abolish gender-based duty assignments, and end gendered dress codes—reforms long advocated by CISLAC.
As part of its broader recommendations, CISLAC also called for: phasing out analogue record-keeping at all levels of the Police Force; establishment of a digital, unified, and perpetual record system for crimes, especially those involving gender-based violence (GBV) and human rights violations; mandatory documentation of investigative outcomes and prosecutions in a transparent and accessible format; and creation of a Gender and Inclusion Compliance Directorate with the statutory authority to monitor recruitment, training, postings, promotions, and disciplinary procedures among others.
CISLAC stressed that modern policing in a 21st-century democracy cannot operate on outdated, analogue, or discriminatory frameworks.
The organisation noted that a digitised and gender-responsive system enhances professionalism, improves public trust, and strengthens Nigeria’s ability to prevent and prosecute GBV, human rights abuses, and corruption-related offences.

…Lauds ICPC over conviction of UNICAL Dean for sexual harassment
In a separate statement, Rafsanjani commended the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) for securing the conviction of Prof. Cyril Ndifon, the suspended Dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Calabar (UNICAL), over charges of sexual harassment and exploitation of female students.
He described the judgment as a “landmark conviction” that sends a strong warning that abuse of power within Nigeria’s academic system will no longer go unpunished.
Rafsanjani noted that sexual harassment constitutes a form of gender-based corruption and stressed that no individual, regardless of office, should misuse their authority for personal favours.
He said, “Lecturers have a duty of care towards their students and must uphold it at all times,” the statement read. “Institutions of learning must remain safe spaces for young people, especially young women who deserve dignity, respect, and protection.”
CISLAC called on victims and witnesses of sexual harassment to speak out and encouraged tertiary institutions to strengthen policies and reporting mechanisms that safeguard students.
The organisation also highlighted its long-standing collaboration with the ICPC and other stakeholders through advocacy campaigns, sensitisation programmes, and its Advocacy and Legal Advice Centre (ALAC), which receives complaints, provides free legal guidance, and forwards verified cases to relevant authorities for appropriate action.
He also commended the Senate and House of Representatives of the 10th National Assembly for passing the Sexual Harassment in Tertiary Educational Institutions Bill.
He urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to assent to the bill once it is transmitted to the Presidency, stressing that its enactment would significantly curb the growing menace of sexual exploitation on campuses.
“The bill, once signed into law, will strengthen accountability and ensure that offenders face the full weight of justice,” he said.