NANS Urges President Tinubu to Sign Sexual Harassment Bill into Law

• NANS appeals to President Tinubu to sign the sexual harassment prohibition bill for tertiary institutions following recent scandals
• NANS emphasizes the urgency after the suspension of a dean at the University of Calabar over sexual harassment allegations

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has issued a fervent appeal to President Bola Tinubu to sign the sexual harassment prohibition bill for tertiary institutions, emphasizing the urgency following the recent suspension of the dean of the faculty of law at the University of Calabar over sexual harassment allegations.

In a statement released on Monday, Pedro Chibuzo Obi, President of the Association, underscored the critical need for the President’s assent to the bill as a decisive measure to end the “pervasive practice in our tertiary institutions by randy lecturers who have turned themselves to beasts.”

Obi highlighted the recent protest by students of the University of Calabar as a wake-up call, urging swift action to address the growing concerns surrounding sexual harassment on campuses.

The statement read: “As an association, we feel inundated by the campaign for the Nigerian President to assent to the Sexual Harassment in Tertiary Educational Institutions Prevention, Prohibition, and Redressal Bill, which has been passed since 2020 by the National Assembly.

“It is very important for the President to give his assent to the bill as a long-lasting measure towards putting an end to this pervasive practice in our tertiary institutions by randy lecturers who have turned themselves into beasts. The President must assent to this bill because our campuses are gradually becoming notoriously unsafe and hostile for our female students.

“We believe that once this bill is assented to, it will help curb this evil menace, which is gradually becoming an impediment for the girl-child to access education. The UNICAL uprising against one Law Professor Cyril Ndifon and the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, is still fresh in our memories. We believe that if the bill had been assented to, these randy lecturers would have had their days in court and serve as a deterrence for others.

“It is public knowledge that sexual harassment is being increasingly reported on academic campuses and, no doubt, has lasting social and psychological consequences on the victims. In Nigeria today, it is pervasive and is a major issue of concern to us as a Students’ body.

“We understand that several higher institutions such as Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, have adopted anti-harassment policies and units. However, the President must assent to the bill to make our tertiary institutions a safe haven.

“Also, our institutions of higher learning must be compelled by law to provide a safe learning environment by preventing, monitoring, and swiftly and decisively punishing sexual harassment.

“Beyond sacking and demotion, culpable lecturers must be prosecuted in the law court. And, this can only be achieved when the President gives assent to the Sexual Harassment in Tertiary Educational Institutions Prevention, Prohibition, and Redressal Bill.”