National Assembly to Accelerate Bill Against Gender Harassment

• The National Assembly is set to expedite the passage of a bill aimed at combating sexual harassment in tertiary institutions across Nigeria
• The bill, focused on the Prevention, Prohibition, and Redressal of Sexual Harassment in Tertiary Educational Institutions, is expected to be passed by both legislative houses and signed into law by the President

The National Assembly is set to expedite the passage of a bill aimed at combating sexual harassment in tertiary institutions across Nigeria. This commitment was made by stakeholders during a one-day national stakeholder engagement on sexual harassment prevention organized by the Gender Mobile Initiative in Abuja on Tuesday.

Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practice Commission (ICPC), expressed concern over the increasing incidents of sexual harassment not only in tertiary institutions but also in primary and secondary schools nationwide.

During the event, Minister of Women Affairs Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye and Minister of State for Education Yusuf Tanko Sununu highlighted their expectations that the bill, focused on the Prevention, Prohibition, and Redressal of Sexual Harassment in Tertiary Educational Institutions, would soon be passed by both legislative houses and signed into law by the President.

Akin Rotimi Jnr, the bill’s sponsor and member of the House of Representatives, assured attendees that the bill would be fast-tracked and passed without needing a public hearing. He noted that the bill aligns with Agenda 5 of the 9th Assembly’s Legislative Agenda under Social Sector Reforms.

Omowumi Ogunrotimi, founder and Executive Director of Gender Mobile Initiative, emphasized the importance of a prevention-focused framework rather than a response framework for addressing sexual harassment. She recalled that a national conference was held as early as 2019 and 2020 to validate the policy with key stakeholders, including the National Universities Commission (NUC), National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), and the student community.

The stakeholders at the engagement called for swift legislative action to curb the rising tide of sexual harassment in educational institutions and ensure a safer environment for students and staff alike.