Senate Passes Bill Criminalising Sexual Harassment in Tertiary Institutions
The Senate on Wednesday passed a bill seeking to prevent, prohibit, and redress sexual harassment of students in Nigerian educational institutions.
The proposed legislation, titled “A Bill for an Act to Prevent, Prohibit, and Redress Sexual Harassment of Students in Tertiary Educational Institutions and for Related Matters,” aims to provide a legal framework to curb sexual misconduct by educators and protect students from exploitation and abuse.
The bill, sponsored by the Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central), seeks to criminalize all forms of sexual harassment in educational environments, including demands for sexual favours by lecturers, supervisors, or other officials in exchange for grades, admissions, or academic benefits.
Under the new law, offenders found guilty of sexual harassment of students risk a jail term of up to 14 years without an option of fine, depending on the severity of the offence.
The bill also prescribes strict institutional responsibilities, compelling schools to establish grievance redress mechanisms, whistleblower protection systems, and awareness programmes to combat harassment.
In his remarks after the bill was passed, Senate President Godswill Akpabio commended lawmakers for their bipartisan support, describing the legislation as a major step toward protecting the dignity and rights of Nigerian students.
“This bill reinforces our collective resolve to create a safe and respectful learning environment for all students, particularly young women who have been victims of intimidation and exploitation,” Akpabio said.
The legislation follows years of public outcry over incidents of sexual misconduct in Nigerian universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education many of which gained national attention through media exposés and student protests.
The bill will now be transmitted to the House of Representatives for concurrence before being forwarded to the President for assent.
If signed into law, it will mark a significant milestone in Nigeria’s efforts to institutionalize accountability and safeguard students from abuse within the country’s educational system.
