The Senate has passed a bill imposing strict prison sentences of five to 14 years, without the option of fines, for anyone found guilty of sexually harassing students in Nigeria’s tertiary institutions.
On Tuesday, the upper chamber gave the Sexual Harassment of Students (Prevention and Prohibition) Bill, 2025 (HB.1597), its third reading. Presented by Senate Leader Senator Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central), the bill aims to protect students from sexual misconduct while establishing a legal framework for punishing offenders.
“The Bill is enacted to promote and protect ethical standards in tertiary education, the sanctity of the student-educator relationship of authority, dependency, and trust, and respect for human dignity in educational institutions,” Bamidele said.
Under the legislation, perpetrators of sexual harassment face up to 14 years in prison and not less than five years, while lesser offences carry two to five years behind bars, with fines explicitly prohibited.
The law also empowers students or their representatives to file civil suits against educators for breach of fiduciary duty. Institutions can conduct internal disciplinary actions, but any ongoing criminal case must take precedence.
Sexual harassment, as defined in the bill, includes “grabbing, hugging, kissing, rubbing, or touching the breasts, hair, lips, hips, or any other sensual part of the body of a woman; displaying, giving, or sending sexually explicit pictures or materials; whistling, winking, making sexual remarks, or stalking a student.” The bill makes it clear that student consent is not a defence, except where the educator and student are legally married.
Complaints can be lodged in writing by the affected student, a guardian, relative, or lawyer to the Nigeria Police Force or the Attorney-General, with copies sent to the Independent Sexual Harassment Committee of the relevant institution.
During the debate, some senators called for the law to extend beyond students. Senator Adams Oshiomhole (APC, Edo North) said, “There is no need to restrict sexual harassment issues to students. We should craft this law in a way that gives it universal application.”
Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin (APC, Kano North), who presided over the session, clarified that the bill was a concurrence from the House of Representatives and could not be significantly altered, noting that existing laws already address sexual harassment in workplaces and other sectors.
The Senate passed the bill unanimously, describing it as a critical measure to end sexual abuse and protect students’ rights in Nigeria’s tertiary institutions.