The National Assembly has passed a landmark bill prescribing up to 14 years imprisonment for educators convicted of sexually harassing students in tertiary institutions.
The “Sexual Harassment of Students (Prevention and Prohibition) Bill, 2025” aims to protect students from exploitation and uphold ethics in academia.
Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele said the legislation clearly defines offences — including sexual advances, coercion for grades, and unwanted touching — and allows victims to pursue civil action.
Under the law, consent is not a defence where a lecturer-student relationship exists, and only marriage can nullify liability.
Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin described the bill as “a decisive step to restore dignity in higher education.”
The bill follows years of sexual misconduct scandals across Nigerian universities and growing calls for legal accountability.
