Sexual harassment: Reps propose 14 years jail term for offenders

The House of Representatives has passed a bill to prevent and address sexual harassment of students in tertiary institution, proposing 14 years jail term for offenders.

The bill also proposed five years imprisonment or N5 million fine for heads of institutions that refused to act on complaints of sexual harassment by students.

Addressing journalists in Abuja on the intent of the bill, the sponsor and spokesperson for the House, Akin Rotimi said: “It is enacted to promote and protect ethical standards in tertiary education, the sanctity of the student-educator fiduciary relationship of authority, dependency and trust and respect for human dignity in tertiary institutions.”

According to him, the bill aims to “provide for the protection of students against sexual harassment by educators in tertiary educational institutions.”

Speaking on what constitutes a sexual offence, the bill provides that an educator shall be guilty of committing an offence or a felony of sexual harassment if he/she “engages in any form of unwelcome physical contact or verbal conduct of a sexual nature with a student or prospective student, or demands such conduct, regardless of consent.