Senate passes bill to prohibit sexual harassment in educational institutions

The Senate has passed, through third reading, a bill seeking to prevent and prohibit 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, aims to protect students from all forms of sexual misconduct and abuse within academic settings. It also establishes a clear legal framework for enforcement and the punishment of offenders.

During deliberation, several senators commended the intent of the legislation but advocated for broader coverage beyond the education sector.

Senator Adams Oshiomhole argued that the bill should not be limited to students, stressing the need for a more comprehensive law that addresses sexual harassment in workplaces and other public or private institutions.

“There is no need to restrict sexual harassment issues to students. We should craft this law in a way that gives it universal application,” he said.

Similarly, Senator Anthony Ani noted that sexual harassment is a widespread societal problem, describing the limitation of the bill to educational institutions as “a misnomer.”

However, Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, who presided over the session, clarified that since the bill is a concurrent legislation from the House of Representatives, it cannot undergo extensive changes at this stage but may only be amended.