Senate Approve 14-Year Jail Term For Randy Lecturers

One serious statement against abuse of power for Nigeria ivory towers ring through di Senate chamber on Wednesday as senators approve law wey fit jail lecturers up to 14 years wey dey sexually harass students. Di Sexual Harassment of Students (Prevention and Prohibition) Bill, 2025, na big step for fight against sexual exploitation for tertiary schools, wahala wey don dey whisper for corridors of power but nobody dey confront head-on. Di bill, wey Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central) move, dey target di “culture of coercion and silence” wey don destroy trust between teachers and students. Bamidele talk say di law dey protect students from all sexual misconduct and abuse for school, dey uphold respect for human dignity and ethical teaching. E yarn, “Dis law dey protect di student-teacher relationship wey based on authority, dependency and trust. E go make sure no teacher dey use dat trust to exploit students again.”

Under di new law, any educator wey commit sexual harassment fit jam minimum five years and maximum 14 years jail, no fine dey. Smaller but related offences fit carry two to five years jail, also no fine. Anybody wey help or push another person to commit di harassment dey liable too. Di law remove defence of consent, say “e no go be defence say student agree,” except dem dey legally married. Students or dia reps fit write petition straight to Nigerian Police, Attorney-General, or di school’s Independent Sexual Harassment Prohibition Committee. Every school must get dis committee wey go investigate and deliver final decision. Once case enter court, internal school panel no fit continue di matter to avoid wahala. For years, Naija campuses don dey shake with “sex-for-grades” scandal, but dis Senate move show say na zero-tolerance era don start for dis kind abuse.