By Joy Odor
A Bill for an Act to Prevent, Prohibit and Redress Sexual Harassment of Students in Tertiary Educational Institutions and for Other Related Matters has passed for third reading in the floor of the House of Representatives.

The bill proposed 14 years imprisonment for those convicted of the offences and 5 years imprisonment or N5 million fine for heads of institutions that refused to act on complaints of sexual harassment by students.
Leader of the House of Representative, Hon. Julius Ihonvbere, (representing Owan Federal Constituency) of Edo State, who read the bill, noted that the bill when passed will ensure that students learn in a conducive tertiary educational institution.
While briefing journalists at the National Assembly after plenary, the Chairman Media and Publicity, Hon. Akin Rotimi Jr. and sponsor of the bill explained that the objectives of the bill is enacted to promote and protect ethical standards in tertiary education and the dependency, trust and respect for human dignity in tertiary educational institutions.
“Creates a hostile, offensive, or intimidating environment for a student by making unsolicited or inappropriate sexual advances, or by requesting sexual favours; or
“Directs, facilitates, assists, or encourages another person to engage in any act of sexual harassment as defined under this Bill”.
Contributing on the Bill, Chief Executive Officer of Gender Mobile, Omowumi Ogunrotimi said in addition to policies, a legal framework that would create an ethical infrastructure that will regulate and ensure that the environment of learning do not harbour predators.
Also speaking, the President of National Association of Nigerian Student (NANS) Mr. Lucky Omonife expressed sadness over the ugly results of sexual harassment of students before now but said he is optimistic that the Senate will look into the bill and also concur.