Students, activists cheer as Reps approve anti-sexual harassment Bill
Students’ unions and gender activists have praised the House of Representatives for passing a bill aimed at preventing, prohibiting, and addressing sexual harassment of students in tertiary educational institutions.
During a briefing in Abuja, stakeholders urged the Senate to follow the House’s lead and pass the bill swiftly for the President’s quick assent.
Omowunmi Okurotimi, Founder of Gender Mobile, commended the bill’s sponsor, Rep. Akin Rotimi (APC-Ekiti), and the entire House for their efforts in advancing the legislation.
She stated that once passed into law, the bill will create a safe learning environment for all students.
According to her, policies alone are insufficient; a robust framework is needed to regulate social relations and ensure that predators are not allowed in educational settings.
“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 desk,” she emphasized.
“This will leverage the momentum from the upcoming advocacy against gender and sexual-based violence, which begins on November 25,” she added.
Ms. Okurotimi called on other civil society organizations (CSOs) to join the advocacy for the bill’s passage.
Lucky Emunife, President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), expressed that the development has delighted over 40 million Nigerian students. He praised the bill’s sponsor for creating a framework aimed at protecting students from sexual harassment.
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Emunife stated that once enacted, the bill will instill confidence in students at tertiary institutions, assuring them that they can learn without fear of intimidation.
“As NANS president, I frequently hear about lecturers and non-academic staff harassing students, with some cases leading to tragic outcomes, as we saw at Ebonyi State University,” he said. “The bill will not only reduce harassment but also serve as a deterrent to those with harmful intentions toward students.”
Choice Enebilo, President of the Female Students Association of Nigeria, also commended the spirit and intent of the bill.
She stated that this piece of legislation is a beacon of hope for girls and women, especially in educational environments.
The bill specifies that an educator shall be considered guilty of committing an offense or felony of sexual harassment if he or she:
“Engages in any form of unwelcome physical contact or verbal conduct of a sexual nature with a student or prospective student, or demands such conduct, regardless of consent; or
“Creates a hostile, offensive, or intimidating environment for a student by making unsolicited or inappropriate sexual advances or by requesting sexual favors; or
“Directs, facilitates, assists, or encourages another person to engage in any act of sexual harassment as defined under this Bill; or
“Displays, sends, or distributes any form of sexually explicit or suggestive material, including images, videos, or objects, to a student through any medium; or
“Makes verbal or non-verbal remarks, comments, or gestures of a sexual nature, or any remarks or conduct intended to degrade, humiliate, or body shame a student based on their physical appearance; or
“Engages in stalking, persistent following, or any form of unwanted attention directed at a student, creating an atmosphere of fear or discomfort. When proven, the offender shall be guilty, and consent shall not constitute a defense to any offense under this Bill where a power imbalance exists between the educator and the student.
There are reports that the bill, which has now been passed for the third time, proposes a 14-year prison sentence for those convicted of sexual harassment. Additionally, heads of institutions who fail to address student complaints of harassment could face five years in prison or a fine of N5 million.
Journalists also report that the sponsor and spokesperson for the House, Akin Rotimi, said, “It is enacted to promote and protect ethical standards in tertiary education, the sanctity of the student-educator fiduciary relationship of authority, dependency, and trust, and respect for human dignity in tertiary educational institutions.”
He said the bill aims at “providing for the protection of students against sexual harassment by educators in tertiary educational institutions; prevention of sexual harassment of students by educators in tertiary educational institutions; and redressal of complaints of sexual harassment of students by educators in tertiary educational institutions.”
On what constitutes a sexual offense, the bill provides that “an educator shall be guilty of committing an offense or a felony of sexual harassment if he/she engages in any form of unwelcome physical contact or verbal conduct of a sexual nature with a student or prospective student, or demands such conduct, regardless of consent.”
Proofreading by Uchechi Ojo, Sub-editor at NeptunePrime.
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