The Nigerian Senate has passed, through third reading, a bill seeking to prevent and prohibit sexual harassment of students in educational institutions and other learning environments across the country.
The legislation, which originated from the House of Representatives as a concurrent bill, aims to protect students from all forms of sexual misconduct and abuse within academic settings while establishing clear legal frameworks for enforcement and punishment of offenders.
During deliberation, several lawmakers commended the bill’s objectives but called for its scope to be expanded beyond the education sector.
Senator Adams Oshiomhole argued that the law should address sexual harassment in all areas of society, not just schools.
“There is no need to restrict sexual harassment issues to students. We should craft this law in a way that gives it universal application,” he said.
Senator Anthony Ani also stressed that sexual harassment remains a widespread issue across workplaces and other public spaces, adding that limiting the bill to academic institutions would be a missed opportunity. “Sexual harassment is everywhere. Limiting this bill to tertiary institutions is a misnomer,” he stated.
Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, who presided over the session, clarified that because the bill is a concurrent one from the House, it cannot undergo major revisions but may only be amended in limited form. He further noted that existing laws already address harassment in workplaces and other public institutions.
After a brief round of discussions, the Senate unanimously passed the bill for third reading, marking a major step toward strengthening protections for students against sexual misconduct in Nigeria’s education system
