By POPOOLA YAQUOB, Ado-Ekiti
Ekiti State Police Commissioner, Mr Babatunde Mobayo, has cleared the air over the sacking of pregnant policewoman, Miss Olajide Omolola, saying her conduct actually violated Section 127 of the police regulation, which carries serious punitive measures against flouters.
Omolola, who was attached to the Iye-Ekiti Police Station in Ilejemeje area of Ekiti State, was dismissed last week by the police authority, for getting pregnant barely a year after graduating from the police academy.
The CP gave this clarification during a chat with journalists in Ado-Ekiti on Thursday.
The Police Chief argued that the rule and regulation were unambiguous that woman police must undergo post-training experience on the field for at least two years before marriage and three years before childbearing.
“I felt for that lady, though I never saw her before. We saw the medical report and we did due diligence on her case.
We can’t shy away from the oath of office we took, but the IGP can still reverse whatever we do on the field.
“About 300 policewomen were graduated here last year. How would the public feel if they see all of them pregnant in less than a year? It will look ridiculous. We are not the drafters of the rules, we met them there.
“All these disciplinary actions are what made us be able to control our men. No Police Constable is underaged and they should be able to know what to do not to get pregnant within the time prohibited by regulation”.
Mobayo maintained the Police Amendment Bill 2019, which was brought and sponsored by Senator Uzenwa Onyebuchi at the Senate has not been passed, saying it has only got to the second reading.
He said: “In police organisation, we have rules and regulations, which are being carried out within the ambit of the constitution. The Police officers are not even allowed to keep their children that are above 18 years of age in the barracks. Some of these laws were taught in the police Colleges before we graduated.
“These laws have been there. Some stipulated the number of years you must spend before you get married. If you are in police College, you are not supposed to get pregnant . When you passed out, you still need basic trainings and for your attention not to be distracted , you must spend certain minimum of period before you get married for you to perform efficiently.
“The lady in question passed out May 2020, which is eight months ago and now she is with six-month pregnancy. The Police Act 2020, which is undergoing amendment in the Senate has not repealed that. She had contravened Section 127 of the police regulation.
“Section 126 of the regulation stated that married woman police who is pregnant may be granted maternity leave, while Section 127 said unmarried woman police who becomes pregnant shall be discharged from the Force and shall not be enlisted except with the approval of the IGP.
“What some people talked about that her fundamental human rights had been trampled upon and that women should not be discriminated against while also saying the law has been repealed were not true. The regulation is still in place.” (Daily Independent)
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