House Of Representatives Passes Bill Imposing 14-Year Prison Term For Sexual Harassment In Tertiary Institutions
The House of Representatives on Wednesday passed a landmark bill aimed at preventing, prohibiting, and addressing sexual harassment of students in tertiary institutions. Under the bill, individuals convicted of sexual harassment may face up to 14 years in prison, while institutional heads who fail to address complaints could face five years in prison or a fine of N5 million.
At a media briefing, the bill’s sponsor and House spokesperson, Akin Rotimi, highlighted its intent: “It 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 dignity in tertiary educational institutions.”
Rotimi outlined the bill’s objectives, including “the protection of students against sexual harassment by educators in tertiary educational institutions; the prevention of sexual harassment; and the redressal of complaints of sexual harassment by educators.”
The bill details various forms of harassment, including “unwelcome physical or verbal conduct of a sexual nature, creating a hostile environment, encouraging others to harass, displaying explicit materials, making degrading comments, or engaging in stalking or unwanted attention.”
In cases of sexual harassment offenses, the bill mandates that “any person found guilty shall, on conviction, face imprisonment for up to 14 years but not less than 5 years, without an option of a fine.”
It further states that “an administrative head of an institution who fails to act on complaints is guilty of an offence and shall face a minimum fine of N5 million or up to 5 years in prison, or both.” Additionally, those committing less severe offenses could face 2-5 years in prison, without the option of a fine.
