Senate Approves 14-Year Jail Term for Sexual Harassment in Nigerian Schools

The Nigerian Senate has passed into law a bill prescribing a 14-year jail term for anyone found guilty of sexual harassment within educational institutions across the country. The legislation, which scaled its third and final reading on Tuesday, seeks to protect students from all forms of sexual misconduct and abuse while establishing a clear legal framework for the punishment of offenders.

The bill, a concurrent legislation from the House of Representatives, aims to strengthen accountability in Nigeria’s education system and ensure safer learning environments for students. It prohibits any act of sexual harassment by educators, staff, or individuals in positions of authority within academic institutions.

During deliberations, lawmakers commended the bill’s intent but debated whether its scope should extend beyond schools. Senator Adams Oshiomhole (Edo North) argued that sexual harassment is a broader social problem that should not be confined to campuses alone.

“There is no need to restrict sexual harassment issues to students. This law should have universal application,” Oshiomhole said.

Similarly, Senator Anthony Ani (Cross River South) emphasized that sexual harassment remains rampant across workplaces and public institutions, calling for a more inclusive legal approach.

However, Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, who presided over the plenary, clarified that since the bill originated from the House of Representatives, the Senate’s role was limited to concurrence and minor amendments. He further noted that existing laws already address harassment in other professional environments.

After brief debate, the bill was unanimously passed and now awaits harmonization and presidential assent before becoming law.
The new legislation comes amid rising public concern over the prevalence of sexual harassment in Nigerian tertiary institutions.

According to a national survey, at least 63% of female undergraduates have experienced some form of sexual harassment from lecturers or fellow students.
Over the years, several Nigerian universities have dismissed or sanctioned lecturers involved in such cases. At Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, multiple lecturers have faced disciplinary actions since 2018, including the suspension of Professor Richard Oladele of the Accounting Department and the dismissal of others across English, International Relations, and Accounting departments.

In 2024, the Federal University Lokoja suspended a lecturer for allegedly harassing a 300-level student, while Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, had earlier dismissed Associate Professor Monday Igbafen in 2019 over similar allegations.
A 2024 analysis by The PUNCH revealed that no fewer than 39 lecturers in Nigerian tertiary institutions were indicted and dismissed for sexual misconduct between 2019 and 2024.