The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) has called on the National Assembly to increase the proposed women’s recruitment quota in the Nigeria Police Act (Amendment) Bill from 15 per cent to 30 per cent.
Auwal Rafsanjani, Executive Director of CISLAC and head of Transparency International – Nigeria, made the statement on Tuesday in Abuja. He said the proposal aligns with African Union and ECOWAS standards on gender inclusion in security.
“The National Policy on Women, adopted in 2000, recommended a 30 per cent reservation for women in appointments,” Rafsanjani said. He added that a 30 per cent quota would bring Nigeria in line with global norms.
Current Female Representation Too Low
CISLAC noted that women currently make up less than 11 per cent of the Nigeria Police Force. This is far below regional and international benchmarks. Rafsanjani said increasing the quota is necessary to correct decades of structural exclusion.
During a public hearing organised by the House Committee on Police Affairs, CISLAC’s proposal was welcomed. Several panel members suggested starting with a 20 per cent quota, while working toward 30 per cent.
Calls for Broader Police Reforms
CISLAC also recommended wider reforms to ensure gender equality in policing. Okorie Kalu, Head of Legal Unit at the Federal Ministry of Police Affairs, said the Ministry is updating regulations to remove discriminatory rules. These include marital and pregnancy restrictions, gendered duty assignments, and dress codes.
Other CISLAC proposals include:
- Phasing out analogue record-keeping and introducing a digital, unified crime record system.
- Mandatory documentation of investigative outcomes and prosecutions in a transparent format.
- Creating a Gender and Inclusion Compliance Directorate to monitor recruitment, postings, promotions, and discipline.
- Enforcing gender-responsive budgeting and annual audits with public reporting.
Modern Policing Needs Gender Equality
Rafsanjani stressed that modern policing cannot rely on outdated or biased systems. A digital and gender-responsive approach will improve professionalism. It will also boost public trust and strengthen Nigeria’s ability to prevent and prosecute GBV, human rights violations, and corruption.
CISLAC pledged to support the National Assembly in creating a transparent, inclusive, and rights-based police force. This, it said, will help the force respond effectively to Nigeria’s security challenges and meet global standards.
