[FULL DETAILS]: Nigerian Senate Approves Bill Against Sexual Harassment by Teachers or Lecturers in Educational Institutions
The Nigerian Senate has adopted a landmark bill aimed at combating sexual harassment in tertiary educational institutions, introducing severe penalties including up to 14 years imprisonment without the option of a fine for offenders. The legislation, which seeks to safeguard students from misconduct by teachers or lecturers, was approved following a third reading during Tuesday's plenary session. Titled the Sexual Harassment of Students (Prevention and Prohibition) Bill, 2025 (HB.1597) , the bill was presented for concurrence by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele of APC, Ekiti Central, who emphasized that it is designed to protect students from all forms of sexual abuse in academic settings, while establishing clear legal mechanisms or frameworks for enforcement and punishment. "The Bill 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 ...