Senate (5).webp
The Digest:

The Nigerian Senate has passed the Sexual Harassment of Students (Prevention and Prohibition) Bill, 2025, prescribing a prison term of up to 14 years for educators in tertiary institutions convicted of sexually harassing students, a decisive move to protect academic environments and restore the sanctity of the student-educator relationship.

Key Points:
  • The bill prescribes 5-14 years imprisonment without the option of a fine for core offences.
  • Lesser offences carry a 2-5 year jail term, also without a fine.
  • A student can pursue civil action for breach of fiduciary duty.
  • Marriage is the only defence; consent is invalidated by power imbalance.
  • Complaints can be filed by the student, relatives, or any concerned party.
  • Some senators, like Adams Oshiomhole, argued for expanding the bill beyond campuses.
  • The Deputy Senate President noted existing laws cover workplace harassment.
This legislative action reveals a national institution navigating the storm of a pervasive social ill, attempting to carve out a space of safety and accountability within the critical, yet vulnerable, realm of higher education.

Sources: The Cable, Nigerian Senate