The Chairman of the Police Service Commission Dr. Solomon Arase, has expressed determination to partner the United Nations in restoring the dignity of women police officers.
Arase, a former Inspector General of Police today, met with Beatrice Eyong, Country Representative to Nigeria and ECOWAS of the United Nations Women where he pledged the Commission’s commitment to restore the dignity of Police Women.
Dr. Arase who visited the Nigerian Office of the United Nations admitted that discrimination against women including Police women was real, and said the Commission needed strategic partnership with the world organization to improve the welfare and self worth of the Nigerian Police Women.
He disclosed that the Commission under his watch will ensure a recruitment policy redirection that will see more women into the Nigeria Police so that they could compete favourably for management positions in the Force.
The PSC Chairman was confronted with the absence of Women in the core Policy positions in the Police with the glaring situation where no woman is currently a State Command Commissioner throughout the Country.
He noted that the world has moved and that there must henceforth be equity and balance in the appointment of Officers in the Nigeria Police Force.
According to him ” we will use data and statistics to engage the leadership of the Nigeria Police to ensure that women are properly represented in the decision making positions of the Force.
Dr. Arase called for the support of the Organization to create the necessary awareness for women to show interest in Police Work and to support their progress in service.
He pledged to ensure that our State Commands will soon have Women CPs who will be appointed on merit and capacity.
He called for support in capacity building for women in the Police such as mentoring programmes in police training institutions like train the trainer and smplifying the gender policy of the Police.
Dr. Arase disclosed that the first gender desk in the Nigeria Police was put in place under his watch adding that there was need for sufficient training for our women Police working in the desk so that they can work with emphathy and have adequate communication skills to manage issues as they arise.
He invited the Country Representative to also create time to present lectures at Police Colleges with her colleagues to motivate women Police Officers undergoing training.
Beatrice Eyong in her remarks Said the Organization was interested in the reform of the security sector as it affected women Police.
She promised to assist provide technical support and quality coordination to ensure gender equality.
She called for autonomy for the gender desk in the Nigeria Police but frowned that as at today there was no woman state Command Commissioner of Police in the Country.
Mrs. Eyong called for the support of the Commission to rectify the gender inequality in the State Commissioner cadre presently in the Police.