Victoria OparaA Civil Society Organisation (CSO) Gender Mobile Initiative (GMI), has demanded that presidential assent be immediately granted to a bill to prevent sexual harassment in tertiary institutions by Nigerian President Bola Tinubu.
During a press briefing on Monday, November 27, in commemoration of the global observance of 16 days of activism against Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV), The Lead Director of GMI, Omowmi Ogunrotimi, described sexual harassment campuses as alarming and inadequately addressed.
“As a collective, we stand at the forefront of a pressing national concern that demands immediate attention. Today, we bring forth a call for urgency, accountability and transformative change in the face of pervasive sexual harassment and abuse of office on our campuses.
“Alarming statistics reveal that 70% of female graduates from Nigerian tertiary institutions have been subjected to sexual harassment-an epidemic proportion indicative of systemic and structural deficits. These distressing figures are not merely statistics; they represent the lived experiences of countless young women whose educational journey has been marred by the insidious spectre of harassment,” Ogunrotimi noted.
She also stated that the absence of a dedicated legal framework criminalising sexual harassment in educational institutions undermines collective efforts being made to address the issue and decried the delay in presidential assent to the sexual harassment bill.
“This delay is disheartening and raises concerns about the commitment to eradicating sexual harassment within our educational institutions. The need for statutory backing is not just a formality, it is a fundamental requirement to ensure that the provisions of the bill are legally enforceable and carry the necessary gravitas to effect real change,” she said.
The bill, titled “A Bill for an Act to Prevent, Prohibit and Redress Sexual Harassment of Students in Tertiary Institutions and for Matters Concerned Therewith 2019,” was sponsored by former Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege, and 106 other senators.
The bill seeks to eradicate sexual violence in tertiary institutions and proposed a 14-year jail term for offenders.
As at 2022, the bill had been passed by both chambers of the National Assembly, but President Muhammadu Buhari did not assent to the bill till he left office in May 2023.
Tinubu has also not assented to the bill since assuming office, despite passing some bills into law in the early weeks of his presidency.
Referring to the recently assented Students Loan Bill, Ogunrotimi said the initiative will not achieve optimal success if the learning environment is made unconducive by threats of sexual harassment and assault.
“As we commemorate the 16 days of activism, our hope is anchored in the belief that immediate action from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, specifically the prompt signing of the Sexual Harassment Prohibition in Tertiary Education Institutions Bill, will mark a significant milestone in the fight against sexual harassment.
“The delay in presidential assent has left a void in our collective efforts, and we trust that the President’s commitment to the well-being of Nigerian students will translate into swift and resolute action. We look forward to witnessing a tangible demonstration of the President’s dedication to creating safe and nurturing learning environments for all,” she said.
IGP directs institution of GBV desks in schools
Representing the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun, Rita Emesim, a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), disclosed that tertiary educational institutions have been mandated to have sections dedicated to SGBV.
She also added that the police is making effort to better address issues of SGBV when reported.
“As it is now, I think my department is overlooking the aspect of gender cases in campuses, and as it is now, the Inspector-General of Police has made it mandatory for all universities to have a section named Gender-Based section in all universities so as to assist these girls.
“We are open, when it is gender, it is a very sensitive thing, and it is not what used to be when you report such cases and actions are not taken, that is no longer the case,” she said.