The Interview Editors
The Nigerian Senate on Tuesday passed a bill to protect students in tertiary institutions from sexual harassment.
The Bill For An Act To Prevent And Redress Sexual Harassment Of Students In Tertiary Educational Institutions And For Matters Connected Therewith, 2020” was passed for third reading.
It was sponsored by the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ovie-Omo Agege and 105 other senators.
Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, described the passage of the bill as a landmark legislation for the ninth Senate.
Chairman of the Senate Committe on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, Senator Bamidele Opeyemi, said passage of the bill would ensure that mutual consent is no longer a defence for sexual harassment cases in higher institutions.
His committee had earlier considered the bill and recommended for its passage by the Committee of Whole.
ASUU has been vehemently opposed to be bill arguing that it single out lecturers as perpetrators of sexual harassment.
