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To address cases of sexual harassment in the nation’s tertiary institutions, the House of Representatives, on Wednesday, passed “A Bill for an Act to prevent, prohibit and redress sexual harassment of students in tertiary educational institutions and related matters connected therewith.”
The proposed law proposed 14 years imprisonment for convicted offenders and five years imprisonment or N5m fine for heads of institutions that refused to act on complaints of sexual harassment by students.
Addressing journalists in Abuja on the intent of the bill, the sponsor and spokesperson for the House, Akin Rotimi, said “It is enacted to promote and protect ethical standards in tertiary education, the sanctity of the student-educator fiduciary relationship of authority, dependency and trust and respect for human dignity in tertiary educational institutions.”
According to him, the bill aims to “Provide for the protection of students against sexual harassment by educators in tertiary educational institutions.
It also aims to “Prevent sexual harassment of students by educators in tertiary educational institutions; and
redressal of complaints of sexual harassment of students by educators in tertiary educational institutions.”
Speaking on what constitutes a sexual offence, the bill provides that an educator shall be guilty of committing an offence or a felony of sexual harassment if he/she “engages in any form of unwelcome physical contact or verbal conduct of a sexual nature with a student or prospective student, or demands such conduct, regardless of consent;
“Creates a hostile, offensive, or intimidating environment for a student by making unsolicited or inappropriate sexual advances, or by requesting sexual favours;
“Directs, facilitates, assists, or encourages another person to engage in any act of sexual harassment as defined under this ill;
“Displays, sends, or distributes any form of sexually explicit or suggestive material, including images, videos, or objects, to a student through any medium;
“Makes verbal or non-verbal remarks, comments, or gestures of a sexual nature, or any remarks or conduct intended to degrade, humiliate, or body shame a student based on their physical appearance; or engages in stalking, persistent following, or any form of unwanted attention directed at a student, which creates an atmosphere of fear or discomfort.”
According to the proposed legislation, “Any person who commits any of the offences or acts specified in clause 4 (1), (2) and (3) of this is guilty of an offence of felony and shall, on conviction, be sentenced to an imprisonment term of up to 14 years but not less than five years, without an option of a fine.”
The bill also provides that “An administrative head of an institution who fails to comply with the provisions of sub-clauses (1) and (2) of this clause of this bill is guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a minimum fine of N5m or imprisonment for 5 years, or both.”
Similarly, “Any person who commits any of the offences or acts specified in clause 4 (4), (5) and (6) of this bill is guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to an imprisonment term of up to 5 years but not less than 2 years, without an option of a fine.”
Also on Wednesday, the House passed for a second reading, a bill seeking the establishment of the Federal Medical Centre in Lagos.
Titled, “A bill for an Act to amend the Federal Medical Centres Act and establish the Federal Medical Centre, Orile, Lagos State and for Related Matters,” the proposed legislation was sponsored by the member representing Surulere II Federal Constituency, Mr Lanre Okunlola.
Leading the debate on the general principles of the bill during Wednesday’s plenary, Okunlola argued that the huge number of persons living in Lagos necessitated the need for the establishment of more healthcare institutions.
He said, “Lagos State, with its booming population and diverse demographics, faces a critical shortage of accessible, high-quality healthcare.
“Existing tertiary institutions are stretched beyond capacity, struggling to meet the demands of a dynamic and cosmopolitan population.
“The establishment of a Federal Medical Centre in Orile presents a transformative solution. This strategically located centre can serve as a powerful decongestant, alleviating the immense pressure on existing facilities and significantly improving the overall healthcare ecosystem across the region.”
Rallying support for the bill, the All Progressives Congress lawmaker argued that “With a growing population and rising incidence of complex medical conditions, the existing healthcare infrastructure in Orile and its surrounding areas is not sufficient.”
When established, the lawmaker said the healthcare facility would not only benefit the people of Orile alone, stressing that individuals from surrounding areas struggling with complex medical issues would find much-needed care within reach.
The bill will need to be read for the third time before its transmission to the Senate for concurrence.
