Senate passes landmark Bill jailing lecturers up to 14 years for sexually harassing students
A bold stand against the abuse of power in Nigeria’s universities reverberated through the Senate on Wednesday as lawmakers passed a landmark bill imposing prison terms of up to 14 years for lecturers found guilty of sexually harassing students.
The Sexual Harassment of Students (Prevention and Prohibition) Bill, 2025—sponsored by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central)—marks a decisive step in tackling a long-standing culture of sexual exploitation within higher institutions.
Bamidele said the legislation aims to “eradicate the entrenched culture of coercion and silence” that has eroded trust between teachers and students, while restoring dignity and accountability in academic relationships.
“This law protects the integrity of the student-teacher bond,” he noted. “It ensures that no lecturer ever abuses their position of trust to exploit those under their supervision.”
Under the new law, offenders face between five and fourteen years in prison without the option of a fine, while related offences attract between two and five years’ imprisonment.
The Act defines sexual harassment broadly — including demands for sexual favours, unwelcome touching, suggestive remarks, sending explicit materials, stalking, and creating a hostile environment. Even those who aid or encourage such behaviour will face prosecution.
Significantly, the Act removes the defence of consent, declaring that “it shall not be a defence that a student consented,” except where a lawful marriage exists between both parties.
The legislation empowers students, guardians, or legal representatives to lodge complaints directly with the police, the Attorney-General, or a newly mandated Independent Sexual Harassment Prohibition Committee within each tertiary institution.
These committees will have investigative powers, though once a matter enters court, institutional panels must withdraw to avoid jurisdictional overlap.
While commending the bill, Senator Adams Oshiomhole (APC, Edo North) urged lawmakers to extend similar protections to other sectors, arguing that harassment is equally pervasive in workplaces and politics.
Presiding officer Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin (APC, Kano North) clarified that since the bill came from the House for concurrence, substantial changes could not be made. He added that existing laws already address workplace harassment, while this Act focuses on the educational sector, where abuses have become systemic.
For decades, Nigeria’s universities have been plagued by “sex-for-grades” scandals, often left unpunished. The Senate’s move, observers say, signals a turning point — a firm rejection of impunity cloaked in academic authority.
“This is a victory for every student who has suffered in silence,” one female senator declared. “Education should empower, not endanger.”
With Senate concurrence secured, the bill now awaits presidential assent — a final step toward transforming Nigerian campuses into safer, more accountable spaces for learning.
