By Erewunmi Peace

The Nigerian Senate has passed a bill proposing a maximum of 14 years imprisonment for educators found guilty of sexually harassing students in tertiary institutions across the country. The bill, known as the Sexual Harassment of Students (Prevention and Prohibition) Bill, 2025, was approved at plenary for concurrence.

Under the legislation, offences highlighted in Clauses 4(1), (2) and (3) will attract between 5 and 14 years jail term without an option of fine, while lesser violations under Clauses 4(4), (5) and (6) will result in 2 to 5 years imprisonment.

The bill aims to safeguard students from abuse of power by lecturers and other academic staff in universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education. It also mandates tertiary institutions to create independent committees to receive and investigate complaints of sexual misconduct.

In addition to criminal penalties, the bill empowers students to initiate civil actions against perpetrators, reinforcing accountability within the education sector.

Lawmakers say the legislation is a crucial step toward tackling widespread sexual exploitation on campuses and promoting safer learning environments nationwide.

Not yet a fully enacted law

The Senate approval marks a major stage in the legislative process, but the bill will still require:

Concurrence of the House of Representatives (if amendments occur)

Presidential assent before implementation

Once signed into law, violators will face severe consequences, reflecting government commitment to protecting students from predatory behavior.