A landmark change in Nigeria’s fight against sexual misconduct within academia was secured on Wednesday, as the Senate passed the Sexual Harassment of Students (Prohibition and Prevention) Bill, 2025.
The legislation prescribes a maximum of 14 years’ imprisonment for lecturers found guilty of harassing students in tertiary institutions.
Moved by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central), the Bill seeks to shatter what he called a “culture of coercion and silence” that has eroded trust between educators and students.
“This law safeguards the sanctity of the student-educator relationship built on authority, dependency, and trust,” Bamidele declared. “It ensures that no educator ever uses that trust as a weapon of exploitation again.”
For offences under Clauses 4(1), (2) and (3), the Bill sets an imprisonment term of between five and 14 years, without the option of a fine.
Lesser but related offences (Clauses 4(4), (5), and (6)) attract a sentence of two to five years’ imprisonment, also without the option of a fine.
The Bill removes “consent” as a defence in sexual harassment claims, stating “it shall not be a defence that a student consented.” Only a legally recognised marriage between a student and an educator may qualify as an exception.
Complaints may now be filed by a student or their representative (family member, guardian, or lawyer) to any of the following: Nigerian Police Force, Attorney-General, or the institution’s Independent Sexual Harassment Prohibition Committee.
Every tertiary institution must establish an Independent Sexual Harassment Prohibition Committee, empowered to investigate and issue final decisions, in accordance with the law.
Once a matter is before the courts, however, the institution’s internal disciplinary panel may no longer pursue the same case to avoid a conflict of jurisdiction.
Not all senators were satisfied with the bill’s narrow focus. Senator Adams Oshiomhole (APC, Edo North) commended its intent but warned that “there is no need to restrict this law to students.” He argued that harassment occurs in workplaces, offices, politics — not only on campus.
Yet Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin (APC, Kano North), presiding over the plenary, explained that because it is a concurrence bill from the House of Representatives, wider amendments were limited.
He also noted that existing legislation covers harassment in workplaces; this new law is focused solely on the educational sector.
With its adoption by the Senate, the Bill now awaits presidential assent. Once signed into law, it is expected to become a potent deterrent against sexual exploitation in tertiary institutions.
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