Senate passes bill prescribing 14-year jail term for sexual harassment in tertiary institutions

The senate has approved the sexual harassment of students (Prevention and Prohibition) Bill, 2025, which prescribes up to 14 years’ imprisonment for educators convicted of sexually harassing students in tertiary institutions.

Lola Ashiru, the deputy senate leader, who stood in for Opeyemi Bamidele, senate leader, presented the bill, earlier passed by the house of representatives, for concurrence on Wednesday.

Ashiru said the legislation seeks to protect students from sexual misconduct and abuse within academic environments while providing a clear legal framework for enforcement and punishment.

He said the bill also aims to uphold ethical standards in tertiary institutions and preserve the student-educator relationship built on authority, trust, and respect for human dignity.

According to the law, “any person who commits any of the offences or acts specified in clause 4 (1), (2) and (3) of this bill is guilty of an offence of felony and shall, on conviction, be sentenced to an imprisonment term of up to 14 years but not less than 5 years, without an option of a fine.”

It states that offenders under clauses 4 (4), (5) and (6) are liable to imprisonment of two to five years without an option of a fine.

The bill also provides that a student who alleges harassment may pursue civil action for breach of fiduciary duty, with the standard of proof aligned with civil proceedings.

The legislation outlines offences, including demanding sexual favours, making unwanted sexual advances, inducing others to commit harassment, and inappropriate physical contact.

It provides that marriage between the educator and the student is the only defence and that consent is not acceptable where a power imbalance exists.

The bill states that complaints may be filed by the student, a relative, guardian, or any concerned party, with reports submitted to the police, the attorney-general, and the institution’s independent sexual harassment prohibition committee.

During the debate, some lawmakers proposed that the scope of the bill be expanded beyond academic institutions.

Adams Oshiomhole, senator representing Edo north, said the provisions should apply to workplaces and wider social environments.

“We can use one stone to kill all the mad birds,” Oshiomhole said.

“There is no need to limit sexual harassment to students. It should include workplaces and any other location, because the evil is the same. We should craft the law in such a way that it has a universal application.”

Titus Zam, a senator representing Benue north-west, described the bill as too restrictive, arguing that it should not be confined to universities.

Anthony Ani, senator representing Ebonyi south, said harassment occurs in every sphere of society.  “It is everywhere,” he said.

“So, we have to come up with a law that is very encompassing, that takes care of sexual harassment in its entirety. This sexual harassment goes both ways.”

Barau Jibrin, deputy senate president, who presided over the plenary, noted that the bill had already been passed at the lower chamber and was only before the senate for concurrence.

Jibrin also said existing legislation already addresses workplace harassment.

The bill was adopted and passed for third reading.