The Senate has passed a bill prescribing up to 14 years imprisonment for lecturers and other educators convicted of sexually harassing students, in a move to curb sexual exploitation in Nigerian tertiary institutions.
The Senate on Wednesday passed the Sexual Harassment of Students (Prevention and Prohibition) Bill, 2025 (HB.1597), which prescribes jail terms ranging from five to 14 years without an option of fine for educators found guilty of sexual misconduct against students.
The bill, presented for concurrence by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele and represented by his deputy, Oyelola Ashiru, aims to “promote ethical conduct, preserve the sanctity of the educator-student relationship, and uphold respect for human dignity in academic environments.”
It defines offences such as demanding sexual favours for grades, making unwelcome advances, or engaging in unwanted physical contact, and allows victims or their representatives to pursue civil action.
During debate, Senator Adams Oshiomhole called for broader coverage to include workplaces, but Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin clarified that the bill only sought concurrence since existing laws already address workplace harassment.
The bill was passed for third reading and widely hailed by rights groups as a major step toward ending impunity for sexual abuse in Nigerian campuses.