The National Assembly (NASS) has approved a maximum jail term of 14 years and a minimum of five years imprisonment without an option of fine for lecturers and others convicted of sexually harassing students in Nigerian educational institutions.
The approval followed the passage of the Sexual Harassment of Students (Prevention and Prohibition) Bill, 2025 (HB.1597), which scaled third reading on Wednesday in the Senate after concurrence with the House of Representatives.
The legislation seeks to curb sexual exploitation and misconduct in tertiary and secondary institutions across the country, ensuring that educators found guilty face stiff penalties.
Naijaonpoint reports that the bill outlines a wide range of behaviours that qualify as sexual harassment, including:
- Sexual intercourse or demands for sexual favours from a student;
- Intimidation, threats, or creation of a hostile learning environment;
- Unwanted touching, grabbing, hugging, or kissing;
- Sending sexually explicit messages, pictures, or videos;
- Making sexual jokes or comments about a student’s body; and
- Stalking or persistent unsolicited advances.
The lawmakers said the bill was designed to “end the culture of impunity in schools” and ensure “students are safe from sexual predators disguised as educators.”
Victims Empowered to Sue Offenders
Under the new law, victims are empowered to pursue civil action against educators who breach their fiduciary duty through acts of sexual misconduct.
The bill mandates every tertiary institution to establish an Independent Sexual Harassment Prohibition Committee responsible for handling complaints in line with prescribed legal procedures.
Notably, the legislation stipulates that a student’s consent cannot be used as a defence, except in cases where both parties are legally married.
It also states that intent to harass does not need to be proven for conviction, meaning offenders can be held accountable based solely on their actions, regardless of motive.
“This closes the loopholes that have allowed perpetrators to escape justice on technical grounds,” one lawmaker said after the session.
The bill further stipulates that once a criminal case has been filed against an accused person, educational institutions are prohibited from conducting parallel disciplinary proceedings until the conclusion of the court process.
This provision is aimed at preventing interference or conflicting judgments between school panels and judicial authorities.
The new law also expands reporting channels for victims and witnesses. A complaint may be lodged by the affected student, a relative, guardian, legal representative, or any concerned person.
Reports can be submitted to the Nigeria Police Force or the Office of the Attorney-General, with copies forwarded to the relevant institution’s sexual harassment committee.
“This law recognises that many victims may be too afraid to report directly,” another legislator explained, “so it allows parents, guardians, and even concerned citizens to speak up on their behalf.”
The bill now awaits President Bola Tinubu’s assent to become law.
Once signed, it will stand as one of Nigeria’s strongest legal frameworks against sex-for-grades scandals and abuse of power in academic environments.
Lawmakers have described it as a “landmark victory for student protection and institutional accountability”, marking a decisive step toward sanitising Nigeria’s education system.
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