‎Senate Slams 14-Year Jail Term on Lecturers 

‎Randy lecturers may now have to zip up as the Nigerian Senate has passed a landmark bill prescribing up to 14 years in prison for educators guilty of sexually harassing students in tertiary institutions.

‎The legislation, titled Sexual Harassment of Students (Prevention and Prohibition) Bill, 2025, seeks to end the culture of exploitation where lecturers coerce students—mostly women—into sex-for-grades, admission, or other favours.

‎The move follows years of public outrage, including the 2019 Sex-for-Grades undercover investigation that exposed deep-rooted abuse in several Nigerian universities.

‎Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele (APC–Ekiti Central), who presented the bill, said it aims to protect students and promote ethical standards across campuses.

‎Under the new law, offenders face a minimum of 5 years and up to 14 years imprisonment without the option of a fine. It also allows victims to pursue civil action for breach of trust.

‎The bill lists offences such as demanding sexual favours, unwanted touching, and suggestive advances, and clarifies that marriage is the only legal defence, while consent is invalid in any educator-student relationship.

‎Complaints may be filed by victims or concerned parties to the Police, Attorney-General, or the institution’s Sexual Harassment Prohibition Committee.

‎During debate, Senator Adams Oshiomhole (Delta North) urged lawmakers to extend the bill to workplaces, but Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin said the current version—already passed by the House of Representatives—was limited to students and would now proceed for final concurrence.

‎The bill’s passage comes amid a string of scandals in universities nationwide, as activists applaud it as a long-overdue step to protect students and restore dignity in Nigerian campuses.

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