14 Years in Prison: Senate Passes Bill Imposing Stiff Penalty for Sexual Harassment in Tertiary Institutions
The Nigerian Senate has passed a landmark bill prescribing up to 14 years imprisonment for any educator found guilty of sexually harassing students in tertiary institutions. This significant legislative move follows years of widespread reports exposing how lecturers and other academic staff often coerce students—mostly women—into sexual relationships in exchange for grades, admission, or other academic favors.
The bill, titled the Sexual Harassment of Students (Prevention and Prohibition) Bill, 2025 (HB.1597), was presented for concurrence by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele. Bamidele stated that the legislation seeks to protect students from all forms of sexual misconduct and abuse within learning environments, while establishing a strong legal framework for enforcement and punishment, ultimately aiming to promote integrity and ethical conduct across the nation’s tertiary institutions.
The new law introduces severe penalties for offenders:
- Major Offences: Any person convicted of the most serious specified offences (outlined in clauses 4 (1), (2) and (3)) faces a felony charge and shall be sentenced to an imprisonment term of up to 14 years, but not less than 5 years, without the option of a fine.
- Lesser Offences: For other specified offences (outlined in clauses 4 (4), (5) and (6)), a convicted person faces an imprisonment term of up to 5 years, but not less than 2 years, also without the option of a fine.
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The bill outlines a wide range of criminal offences, including demanding sexual favors, making sexual advances, inducing others to commit harassment, and unwanted touching or gestures.
Significantly, the legislation stipulates that marriage between the educator and student is the only defense, and consent shall not be considered a defense where an educator-student relationship exists due to the inherent power imbalance.
Beyond criminal proceedings, a student who alleges harassment may also pursue a civil action for breach of fiduciary duty. The standard of proof for such civil cases will be the same as in other civil proceedings.
Complaints regarding sexual harassment may be filed by the student, relatives, guardians, or any concerned party to the Police or Attorney-General, with copies also submitted to the institution’s Independent Sexual Harassment Prohibition Committee.
During the debate, Senator Adams Oshiomhole argued for the bill’s scope to be expanded to cover workplaces and other sectors, appealing for a “universal application.” However, Deputy Senate President Senator Barau Jibrin, who presided over the plenary, noted that the bill had already passed the House of Representatives and was only open for concurrence. Jibrin also explained that existing laws already address harassment in workplace settings. The bill was subsequently adopted and passed for the third reading.
The new legislation comes amid a history of sexual harassment scandals involving lecturers at universities across the country, with many complainants historically reluctant to pursue justice due to fear of victimisation, stigma, or opaque internal disciplinary systems. Activists and women’s rights groups have long maintained that a stronger federal legal framework was necessary to break this pervasive cycle of silence and impunity.
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