The Anti-Sexual Harassment Bill is set to be transmitted to President Muhammadu Buhari years after it was first introduced and debated in the National Assembly.
The bill which was sponsored by the Deputy President of Senate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, seeks to promote and protect ethical standards in the country. It also seeks to protect women against sexual harassment as well as prevent sexual harassment of students by educators in tertiary institutions.
The bill initially titled, “Sexual Harassment in Tertiary Education Institution Prohibition Bill”, had been passed by the 8th Senate under the leadership of Bukola Saraki, but was rejected by the House of Representatives when it was sent for concurrence.
The House of Representatives had insisted that the bill should take care of other spheres of the society like the workplace, religious institutions among others.
However, the bill which is now titled, ‘Bill for an Act to make Comprehensive Provisions for the Prohibition and Punishment of Sexual Harassment of Students by Educators in Tertiary Educational Institutions’, has been passed by the House of Representatives in its Committee of the Whole on Tuesday, February 8, 2022 and transmitted to Buhari for assent.
This was contained in a statement signed by Prince Efe Duku (Special Adviser to the DSP on Legislative & Plenary Matters).
In the statement, Deputy President of the Senate expressed gratitude to both the Senate and the House of Representatives for passing the landmark Bill.
“We thank all stakeholders and advocacy groups who stood out to be counted.
“We are particularly grateful to the leaders of female students groups across the nation who, being admirably determined to stop the pandemic of sexual harassment, came out boldly to speak to the conscience of the nation to protect them as intended by the Bill.
“Senator Omo-Agege believes in pragmatic solutions to real challenges facing our people. This Bill speaks to his heart of genuine service for enduring positive impacts”, the statement noted.
The bill seeks a stringent national law to properly deal with the inhuman scourge of sexual harassment in academic campuses. The bill prescribed a five-year jail term for lecturers and educators convicted of sexual harassment of their male or female students.
