National Assembly Passes Landmark Bill: Up to 14 Years Jail for Sexual Harassment in Nigerian Schools
The National Assembly has enacted a landmark legislation criminalising sexual harassment in Nigeria’s educational institutions. The new law prescribes between five and fourteen years’ imprisonment without option of fine for offenders, alongside financial penalties of up to ₦5 million for institutions that conceal such abuses.
The legislation, titled A Bill for an Act to Prevent, Prohibit and Redress Sexual Harassment of Students in Educational Institutions and for Related Matters, 2025 (HB.1598), was presented for concurrence in the Senate by Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, Leader of the Senate, and received overwhelming bipartisan support.
The Act seeks to eradicate sexual exploitation and abuse of authority by lecturers, administrators, and staff in schools. It defines sexual harassment broadly, covering acts such as demanding sex from students, engaging in sexual intercourse with students or prospective students, making sexual advances, whistling, winking, sending sexually explicit messages, or inappropriate physical contact.
Importantly, the law stipulates that consent cannot be used as a defence in cases involving educators and students, except where the parties are legally married. Victims are also empowered to seek civil redress in addition to criminal prosecution, thereby strengthening accountability mechanisms.
The bill allows complaints to be submitted not only by the affected student but also by guardians, lawyers, or any interested party concerned with the student’s welfare.
While concurring, Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin clarified that the Senate could not expand the scope of the bill since it originated from the House of Representatives, noting that workplace harassment is already addressed under existing laws.
Senator Lola Ashiru, Deputy Senate Leader, hailed the passage as a triumph for Nigerian students, describing it as a deterrent against “sex‑for‑grades” practices and a measure that restores dignity and discipline to Nigeria’s learning environments.
