In a significant move towards safeguarding students in Nigeria’s tertiary institutions, the House of Representatives has passed a bill aimed at preventing and addressing sexual harassment on campus.
This development has been met with widespread commendation from student unions and gender activists, who are now calling on the Senate to expedite the bill’s passage for quick presidential assent.
At a press briefing in Abuja, stakeholders praised the House for its efforts, urging the Senate to act “with the speed of light.” The Founder of Gender Mobile, Ms. Omowunmi Okurotimi, applauded the bill’s sponsor, Rep. Akin Rotimi (APC-Ekiti State), and the House for advancing the legislation.
Okurotimi stated, “The journey is far from over. I urge the Nigerian Senate to act swiftly, just like the House of Representatives, so we can get this bill to the President’s table.”
She emphasized that “policies alone are insufficient; a comprehensive ethical infrastructure is needed to ensure that predators are not harboured within our learning environments.”
Okurotimi also encouraged Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) to join in advocating for the bill’s passage, particularly as Nigeria prepares for the upcoming campaign against gender-based violence beginning on November 25.
Mr. Lucky Emunife, President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), echoed these sentiments, stating that over 40 million Nigerian students are pleased with the bill’s progress.
“As NANS president, I frequently hear of lecturers and non-academic staff harassing students. Some students have even committed suicide, as seen in Ebonyi State University,” Emunife remarked. He added that the bill would not only empower students to learn without fear but would also “serve as a deterrent to those with harmful intentions.”
Ms. Choice Enebilo, President of the Female Student Association of Nigeria, called the bill “a beacon of hope for girls and women, especially within educational environments.”
The bill explicitly outlines what constitutes sexual harassment by educators, stating that offenses include, unwelcome physical contact or verbal conduct of a sexual nature, regardless of consent, creating a hostile environment through unsolicited advances or requests for sexual favors, facilitating or encouraging acts of harassment, displaying or distributing sexually explicit material to students, making degrading or body-shaming remarks about a student’s physical appearance and engaging in stalking or persistent unwanted attention that causes discomfort or fear.
Under the bill’s provisions, offenders face up to 14 years imprisonment, while heads of institutions who fail to address complaints risk five years imprisonment or a N5 million fine.
Rep. Akin Rotimi highlighted the bill’s aim to “promote and protect ethical standards in tertiary education” and ensure “the sanctity of the student-educator fiduciary relationship of authority, dependency, and trust.” According to Rotimi, the legislation intends to prevent harassment, protect students, and establish mechanisms for redressing complaints in Nigerian tertiary institutions.
This landmark bill is now awaiting consideration by the Senate, whose swift action is seen as crucial for ensuring a safer learning environment across Nigeria’s higher education institutions.
