Nigerian Students, Activists Laud House of Representatives Over Passage of Anti-Sexual Harassment Bill
The House of Representatives has been commended by students’ unions and gender activists for passing a bill aimed at preventing, prohibiting, and redressing sexual harassment of students in tertiary educational institutions. The stakeholders, who expressed their gratitude during a briefing in Abuja, urged the Senate to expedite the passage of the bill for presidential assent.
Omowunmi Okurotimi, Founder of Gender Mobile, praised the sponsor of the bill, Rep. Akin Rotimi (APC-Ekiti state), and the entire House of Representatives for advancing the bill. She emphasized that the proposed legislation will ensure a safe learning environment for all students.
According to Okurotimi, "Policies are not enough; a framework to regulate social relations and prevent predators from being harbored in learning environments is required." She urged the Nigerian Senate to act swiftly and pass the bill, leveraging the momentum gained from the advocacy against gender and sexual-based violence, which commences on November 25.
The President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Lucky Emunife, expressed the delight of over 40 million Nigerian students with the development. He commended the bill’s sponsor for creating a framework to rescue students from sexual harassment.
Emunife stated that the bill, when passed into law, will give students in tertiary institutions the confidence to learn without intimidation. He noted that the bill will not only reduce harassment but also serve as a deterrent to individuals with negative intentions towards students.
The President of the Female Student Association of Nigeria, Choice Enebilo, commended the spirit and intention of the bill, describing it as a beacon of hope for girls and women in learning environments.
The bill explicitly defines what constitutes a sexual offense, including unwelcome physical contact, verbal conduct of a sexual nature, and creating a hostile environment. It proposes 14 years’ imprisonment for those convicted of the offenses and five years’ imprisonment or a N5 million fine for heads of institutions that fail to act on complaints of sexual harassment by students.
The sponsor and spokesperson for the House, Akin Rotimi, explained that the bill aims to promote and protect ethical standards in tertiary education, respecting human dignity and the student-educator fiduciary relationship.
As the bill awaits Senate approval, stakeholders remain hopeful that it will become a law, providing a safe and conducive learning environment for students in Nigerian tertiary institutions.