Activist Lawyer Urges Tinubu to Appoint Female Security Chiefs

Human rights lawyer, Maduabuchi Idam, has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to break new ground by appointing women into key positions within the nation’s security architecture.

In a statement issued on Sunday, Idam urged the president to adopt an inclusive approach in the selection of security chiefs, stressing that female leadership could bring a fresh perspective and stability to Nigeria’s troubled security sector.

“Given the spate of insecurity in Nigeria, the time for out-of-the-box thinking is now. Nothing produces a different result when done repeatedly in the same manner,” Idam stated.

He noted that women possess qualities of firmness, stability, and consistency in decision-making, which he believes would be advantageous in tackling the country’s security challenges.

The activist lawyer lamented what he described as a “tacit conspiracy” by political elites against appointing women as heads of security agencies, adding that even women’s rights advocates and civil society groups rarely campaign for female inclusion in the security hierarchy.

“I have reviewed the laws governing the appointment and progression of security chiefs across various agencies in Nigeria and found no statutory barrier against the appointment of women. So, why are women rarely considered?” he asked.

Idam dismissed the notion that security leadership should be the preserve of men, arguing that the role requires more intelligence and strategic thinking than combat experience — qualities in which women are equally trained.

He further pointed out that male-dominated security leadership has not significantly improved Nigeria’s security landscape, insisting that fresh leadership options, including qualified women, should be explored.

“It is worrisome that the persistent insecurity questions the competence of the current security chiefs. There is no evidence to suggest that qualified female officers cannot deliver or outperform their male counterparts,” Idam added.

He urged President Tinubu to demonstrate courage and vision by appointing women into top security positions, describing it as a step that could mark a turning point in Nigeria’s fight against insecurity.