The Nigerian National Assembly approved a bill aimed at implementing comprehensive measures to prohibit and penalize sexual harassment committed by educators in tertiary institutions.
A bill punishing teachers with up to 14 years in prison for molesting students was passed by the Senate (the upper house) back in 2020, while the House of Representatives (the lower house) had some differing provisions.
However, during Wednesday's plenary session, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, presented a report on the negotiated bill, with input from both chambers.
Additionally, the National Assembly has passed another legislation mandating the inclusion of preventive measures against sexual and gender-based violence in the curriculum of all secondary education levels in Nigeria.
This new law aims to promote awareness and education on preventing such violence from occurring in schools across the country.
Recently, a group of about 1,000 Nigerian students and the nongovernmental organization Women's Rights and Health Project called for a legislative framework to combat student harassment. According to them, it is a "matter of urgency."