Nigeria’s Senate has approved a landmark bill prescribing up to 14 years imprisonment for educators found guilty of sexual harassment in tertiary institutions.
The new legislation, titled the Sexual Harassment of Students (Prevention and Prohibition) Bill, 2025 (HB.1597), was presented for concurrence by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central).
The bill seeks to protect students from abuse and exploitation while imposing severe penalties on offenders.
According to the provisions, offenders convicted under clauses 4 (1–3) face between five and fourteen years in prison, while those guilty under clauses 4 (4–6) risk two to five years both without the option of a fine.
The bill also grants students the right to file civil suits against lecturers who breach their fiduciary duty.
It clarifies that marriage between a lecturer and a student is the only valid defence, stressing that consent cannot be used as a defence in any teacher–student relationship.
Students, relatives, or other concerned individuals can lodge complaints directly with the police or the Attorney-General, with copies sent to the institution’s Sexual Harassment Prohibition Committee.
During deliberations, Senator Adams Oshiomhole (Edo North) suggested broadening the bill to cover workplace harassment, noting that such misconduct extends beyond universities.
However, Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin explained that the bill’s scope was limited to tertiary institutions and that other laws already cover workplace violations.
The bill was subsequently adopted and passed for third reading, marking a decisive step in the fight against academic abuse and gender-based violence.
Its passage follows widespread reports of sexual misconduct by lecturers across Nigerian universities in Lagos, Port Harcourt, Ilorin, Nsukka, Kano, Benin, and Abuja.
Human rights activists and women’s groups have long campaigned for tougher laws to protect students and end the entrenched culture of silence.
Women’s rights advocates hailed the move as a “historic victory” for victims of abuse on campus.
They said the bill provides a stronger legal framework to deter predators and encourage survivors to speak up without fear of victimization.
“This is a victory for every student who ever suffered in silence,” said one activist.
“For too long, predators have hidden behind academic titles. Now, the law has caught up with them.”
With the bill now passed, attention turns to its implementation, as stakeholders call on universities and law enforcement agencies to ensure zero tolerance for abuse in Nigerian academic institutions.