By Nchetachi Chukwuajah
The Senate has approved a bill prescribing up to 14 years imprisonment, with a minimum sentence of five years and no option of fine, for educators convicted of sexually harassing students in tertiary institutions across Nigeria.
It seeks to prohibit the menace of lecturers coercing students for grades, admission advantages, and other academic favours.
The bill, entitled ‘Sexual Harassment of Students (Prevention and Prohibition) Bill, 2025 (HB.1597),’ was presented for concurrence by the Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, on Wednesday, November 5.
Bamidele said the bill was designed to protect students from all forms of sexual misconduct and abuse within academic environments while providing clear legal frameworks for the enforcement and punishment of offenders.
The lawmaker further stated that the bill is enacted to promote and protect ethical standards in tertiary education, the sanctity of the student-educator fiduciary relationship of authority, dependency, and respect for human dignity.
According to the bill, a student who alleges harassment may also pursue a civil action for breach of fiduciary duty, and the standard of proof shall be the same as in civil proceedings.
The bill outlines offences to include demanding sexual favours, making sexual advances, inducing others to commit harassment, and unwanted touching or gestures.
The new legislation, among other things, states that marriage between the educator and student is the only defence, and that consent shall not be considered a defence where an educator-student relationship exists.
It stated, “Sexual harassment complaints may be filed by the student, relatives, guardians or any concerned party to the police or Attorney-General, with copies also submitted to the institution’s Independent Sexual Harassment Prohibition Committee.”
During the debate, some lawmakers called for the bill’s scope to be expanded, with Senator Adams Oshiomhole arguing that the legislation should also cover workplaces and other sectors.
Oshiomhole said, “There is no need to restrict sexual harassment issues to students. We should craft this law in a way that gives it universal application.”
The Deputy Senate President, Senator Barau Jibrin, who presided over the plenary, however, noted that the bill had already passed through the House of Representatives and was only open for concurrence.
Barau also explained that there are already existing laws that address harassment in workplace settings.
The bill was subsequently adopted and passed for third reading.
