EXTRA: Unmarried policewoman sacked for getting pregnant in Ekiti

The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has sacked an unmarried female corporal identified as Olajide Omolola for getting pregnant in Ekiti.

According to PUNCH, the NPF announced her dismissal in a wireless message that originated from the department of finance and administration in Ado Ekiti.

The document was addressed to the divisional police officer (DPO) at Iye Ekiti where Omolola is based.

In the message, the chief financial officer in Ekiti was asked to relay the information of her dismissal to the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) to ensure that her salary is stopped.

“Section 127 of the Police Act and Regulation against women police getting pregnant before marriage W/PC (woman corporal) Olajide Omolola passed out of Police Training School on 24/04/2020 attached to yours contravened above provisions,” the statement read.

“She stands dismissed from the force. Dekit her. Retrieve police documents in her possession with immediate effect. O/C CFO Ekiti only. You are to relay signal to IPPIS Abuja for the stoppage of her salary with immediate effect.

“DECOMPOLS (deputy commissioners of police)/ACPOLS (assistant commissioners of police)/HODs/DPOs Ekiti State only. You are to lecture women police. Treat as very urgent.”

Omolola had completed police training on April 24, 2020, and was attached to Iye Ekiti.

Section 127 of the Police Act as seen by TheCable Lifestyle read: “An unmarried woman police officer who becomes pregnant shall be discharged from the Force, and shall not be re-enlisted except with the approval of the Inspector-General.”

There was, however, no similar part in this act for unmarried men in the police.

In September last year, President Muhammadu Buhari signed into law the Nigeria Police Act, 2020, which repeals the Police Act, 2004.

It was, however, gathered that the aspect of the Police Act which was being relied on to justify Omolola’s sacking had been repealed by Buhari.