The National Assembly of Nigeria has passed a groundbreaking piece of legislation criminalising all forms of sexual harassment within the country’s educational institutions, in a move hailed as a major victory for students’ rights and academic integrity.
The new bill, officially titled “A Bill for an Act to Prevent, Prohibit and Redress Sexual Harassment of Students in Educational Institutions and for Related Matters, 2025 (HB.1598)”, prescribes up to 14 years’ imprisonment for offenders and heavy sanctions for institutions that conceal or fail to act on reported cases of abuse.
The legislation, which was earlier passed by the House of Representatives, was presented to the Senate for concurrence by the Leader of the Senate, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, during Tuesday’s plenary session. It received overwhelming bipartisan support, signalling a united stand by lawmakers to end the long-standing menace of sexual exploitation and abuse of power in schools.
Tougher Penalties for Offenders and Institutions
Under the newly passed law, any lecturer, administrator, or staff member found guilty of sexually harassing a student faces a minimum of five years and a maximum of 14 years in prison, without the option of a fine. Additionally, institutions that conceal or ignore complaints of harassment may face penalties of up to ₦5 million, while their heads risk further administrative sanctions.
Explaining the intent behind the legislation, Senator Bamidele stated that the bill was crafted to protect students from all forms of sexual exploitation and to restore trust between educators and learners.
“This legislation safeguards the integrity of Nigeria’s educational system and ensures accountability among those entrusted with the care and mentorship of our youth,” he said.
Clause 4 of the bill provides a detailed definition of sexual harassment, listing prohibited acts such as demanding sex from a student, making sexual advances, engaging in sexual intercourse with a student or prospective student, or making sexually suggestive remarks about a student’s body.
Other banned acts include sending sexually explicit messages, pictures, or videos to students, or touching, hugging, and pinching intimate parts of their bodies.
No Excuse for Consent in Educator-Student Relationships
The legislation goes further to stipulate that consent cannot be used as a defence in cases involving an educator and a student, except in situations where the two parties are legally married. This clause, lawmakers said, was included to prevent predatory staff from manipulating or intimidating students into unwanted relationships under the guise of consent.
The bill also empowers victims to seek civil redress in addition to criminal prosecution. Under the law, any student who has been sexually harassed by an educator can sue for damages in civil court, giving survivors a stronger legal platform to demand justice and compensation.
To enhance accessibility and accountability, complaints can now be filed not only by victims but also by their guardians, lawyers, or any concerned individual acting in the interest of the student’s welfare.
Senators Applaud Passage as a Victory for Nigerian Students
During deliberations, Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin clarified that the Senate could not make substantive changes to the bill since it originated from the House of Representatives.
“We cannot expand the scope at this stage because the bill was transmitted for concurrence. Besides, existing laws already address harassment in workplaces and other sectors,” he explained.
Despite this procedural limitation, the bill received unanimous endorsement from senators across party lines.
Senator Lola Ashiru, the Deputy Senate Leader who stood in for Senator Bamidele, praised the passage as a major milestone in Nigeria’s educational reform efforts.
“This law will not only punish offenders but also serve as a deterrent to those who have turned our campuses into predatory grounds. It restores dignity and discipline to our learning environments,” she said.
Observers say the legislation could help dismantle the pervasive culture of silence around sexual exploitation in tertiary institutions, where many cases have historically gone unreported due to fear of victimisation or lack of legal protection.
A Step Toward Safer Campuses
The passage of the Sexual Harassment Prohibition Bill marks a historic moment for Nigeria’s higher education sector, which has faced multiple scandals over the years involving lecturers demanding sexual favours in exchange for grades — a practice widely known as “sex-for-grades.”
Student groups, women’s rights organisations, and civil society advocates have long called for stronger laws to protect learners and ensure justice for victims. Many have hailed this bill as the most comprehensive legal response yet to sexual misconduct in Nigerian academia.
According to rights advocates, the success of the new law will depend on its implementation and enforcement. Institutions must be proactive in creating internal reporting systems, ensuring anonymity for whistleblowers, and protecting victims from retaliation.
The legislation also underscores the importance of cultural reorientation within universities, colleges, and secondary schools — shifting from environments of silence and intimidation to ones rooted in respect, equity, and accountability.
Looking Ahead
As the bill moves closer to presidential assent, educational stakeholders have urged federal and state ministries of education to collaborate with the National Human Rights Commission, law enforcement agencies, and student unions to ensure widespread awareness and compliance.
If signed into law, the Act will officially outlaw sexual harassment across all educational institutions in Nigeria, setting a new legal benchmark for student protection, academic ethics, and institutional accountability.
For many Nigerians, this moment represents not just legislative progress, but a cultural shift towards justice, gender equity, and safer spaces for learning.
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