The Nigerian Senate has unanimously passed, at third reading, the "Sexual Harassment of Students (Prevention and Prohibition) Bill, 2025." Originating from the House of Representatives as a concurrent bill, this landmark legislation represents a major step toward tackling sexual exploitation in educational institutions across the country, particularly within tertiary institutions. The bill aims to protect students from all forms of sexual misconduct and abuse while establishing clear legal frameworks for enforcing ethical standards and punishing offenders.

The legislation seeks to dismantle a pervasive “culture of coercion and silence” that has long eroded trust between educators and students. It reinforces the sanctity of the student-educator relationship, built on authority, dependency, and trust, ensuring that this trust is never exploited. The Act sets a new moral standard for Nigerian tertiary education, aiming to reclaim higher learning as a space for mentorship rather than manipulation.

Under the provisions of the Act, educators convicted of sexual harassment face severe penalties. Offenders found guilty of offences specified in clauses 4 (1), (2), and (3) can be imprisoned for five to 14 years, without the option of a fine. For lesser offences outlined in clauses 4 (4), (5), and (6), imprisonment ranges from two to five years, also without the option of a fine.

The bill clearly defines prohibited acts, including demanding or coercing sexual favours from a student or prospective student, making unwelcome sexual advances, creating a hostile or offensive environment, and engaging in inappropriate physical contact such as touching, kissing, hugging, or pinching a student sexually. Sending sexually explicit messages or images, stalking, and making sexually suggestive jokes or remarks are also explicitly criminalized. The law also targets indirect complicity, making it a punishable offence to aid, abet, or induce another person to commit sexual harassment.

Crucially, the Act removes consent as a defence in cases of sexual harassment, recognizing the inherent power imbalance in student-educator relationships. The only exception is a legally recognized marriage between the parties involved.

To ensure accountability, the law establishes clear reporting mechanisms. Students or their representatives, including family members, guardians, or lawyers, can file written complaints with the Nigerian Police Force, the Attorney-General, or the institution’s Independent Sexual Harassment Prohibition Committee. Every tertiary institution is required to establish such a committee, empowered to investigate complaints and deliver final decisions in accordance with the law. Once a matter is taken to court, however, no internal disciplinary panel may continue to adjudicate the same case, avoiding conflicts of jurisdiction.

During Senate deliberations, lawmakers including Senators Adams Oshiomhole, Anthony Ani, and Titus Zam commended the bill but suggested expanding its scope beyond the education sector, citing the prevalence of sexual harassment in workplaces and public spaces. Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, presiding over the session, clarified that because the bill originated as a concurrent bill from the House, the Senate could not make significant amendments. He further noted that existing laws already cover harassment in workplaces and other public institutions, and this Act specifically targets the education sector, where incidents have been alarmingly frequent.

The unanimous third reading signals a zero-tolerance era for sexual abuse in Nigerian academic institutions. Analysts expect that, with the concurrence vote complete, the bill will now await presidential assent to become law, a move that promises to strengthen protections for students and enforce greater accountability among educators.