The Nigeria Police Force has insisted that the approval of a new dress code for female cops is in line with international best practices.
The Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba, had on Friday approved a new dress code for policewomen.
With the approval, female officers are now allowed to wear stud earrings and headscarves under their berets or peak caps while in uniform.
This was, however, greeted with criticisms by some sections of Nigerians.
For instance, two Senior Advocates of Nigeria, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa and Ifedayo Adedipe, faulted the decision, saying it was illegal.
Adegboruwa said the approval was contrary to the provision of Section 10 of the 1999 Constitution, which states that the government and its agencies should maintain a neutral stand on religion.
He queried the rationale behind the decision at a time insecurity was on the rise in the country.
Adegboruwa said, “The IG’s recent dress code approval, which allows female cops to put on hijab is unconstitutional and illegal. It is beyond his powers to do so and it should be reversed immediately.
“The police as an organisation should be neutral. The IG can’t use the platform of his office to enforce his religion. Our constitution is clear in Section 10 that the Nigerian government, the state and its agencies shall maintain a secular stand.
“To that extent, the religion of police officers and government officials should be private to them. There won’t be an end to this once it becomes an official policy; for female police officers who attend Catholic or Celestial Church, we will have to have a dress code for them.
“This organisation has been in existence since 1945 and the police have functioned effectively without dabbling in religion. It is beyond his powers to legislate religion on behalf of the Nigeria Police.
“This should be reversed immediately. The Police Service Commission should caution the IG; the President should order him to reverse this illegality. In all the crises plaguing this country, it is religion that the IG is bothered about. Crime is on the increase and this is a concern?”
On his part, Adedipe asked if police stations in the country had been converted to religious centres.
“Why do you need a female police officer to wear a headscarf? Is the police station a religious centre? How does that improve their performance? How does not wearing it take away from their efficiency? Why introduce this now?” he queried.
But the force spokesman, Muyiwa Adejobi, said female cops wear headscarves in other parts of the world, adding that the directive was not compulsory.
He, however, explained that headscarf was different from hijab.
Adejobi said, “The headscarf is being used by female officers in other countries. There is no sentiment about it; it is just a normal thing and it is in line with international best practices, which we just adopted.
“There’s a difference between a scarf and hijab. The headscarf is very small and can be used to cover the hair and not the entire body or uniform. It is also optional.”
Meanwhile, the Muslim Media Watch Group of Nigeria has commended the IG for responding to the yearnings and aspirations of policewomen as well as rank and file of the NPF, who were clamouring for inclusiveness in the mode of dressing.
A statement by the National Coordinator of the group, Alhaji Abdullahi Ibrahim, described the new dress code as the right step in the right direction.
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