Senate passes bill to curb sexual harassment in educational institutions
The Nigerian Senate has passed, at third reading, a bill aimed at preventing and prohibiting sexual harassment of students in educational institutions and other learning environments across the country.
The bill, which originated from the House of Representatives as a concurrent legislation, seeks to safeguard students from all forms of sexual misconduct and abuse within academic settings. It also provides a clear legal framework for enforcing sanctions and prosecuting offenders.
During the plenary, several lawmakers praised the bill’s intent but urged that its scope be broadened beyond the education sector. Senator Adams Oshiomhole argued that sexual harassment should be addressed comprehensively across all sectors of society. “There is no need to confine sexual harassment issues to students alone. We should craft this law in a way that gives it universal application,” he said.
Senator Anthony Ani also stressed that s3xual h@rassment remains a widespread issue across workplaces and other public spaces, adding that limiting the bill to academic institutions would be a missed opportunity. “S3xual h@rassment is everywhere. Limiting this bill to tertiary institutions is a misnomer,” he stated.
Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, who presided over the session, clarified that because the bill is a concurrent one from the House, it cannot undergo major revisions but may only be amended in limited form. He further noted that existing laws already address h@rassment in workplaces and other public institutions.
After a brief round of discussions, the Senate unanimously passed the bill for third reading, marking a major step toward strengthening protections for students against s3xual misconduct in Nigeria’s education system.