Educationists Pick Holes On Sexual Amendment Bill
Recently, the Senate led by Senate President Ahmed Lawan read for the 3rd time the Sexual Amendment Bill (2020 as amended) which is “A Bill for an Act to Prevent, Prohibit and Redress Sexual Harassment of students” in Tertiary educational institutions.
The bill, sponsored by Deputy Senate President Ovie Omo-Agege and 106 other senators, has 25 clauses and seeks to create equal learning opportunities for students of tertiary institutions in an atmosphere devoid of sexual harassment. It is also to promote ethical standards of education and respect for human dignity.
However, while passing the law, the Senate adjusted the law to even mean all schools including secondary and primary schools.
As the bill prohibits lecturers in higher institutions to date, friend or have sexual intercourse with any student, intimidate or create a hostile or offensive environment for the student by soliciting for sex, and grab, hug, kiss, rub or stroke or touch or pinch any part of the body of a student among others, it also noted that a student’s consent is not a defence to the immoral act. It further stipulates that any person who commits any of the offences shall, on conviction, be sentenced to 14 years Imprisonment, or to a fine of N5 million or both.
While any person who commits the offence of displaying or sending sexual pictures or videos to a student, or making sexually complimentary or uncomplimentary remarks shall, on conviction, be sentenced to two years imprisonment or a fine of N1 million or both.
However, lecturers and teachers who spoke to Daily Trust picked holes in the bill, saying it is targeting only the educators instead of all sectors.
Prof. Ben Ugwoke of University of Abuja in his words said “My overall assessment of the bill is that it is obnoxious, discriminatory, and would create more chaos than any good it is meant to serve as it does not meet the cardinal principle of the universal applicability of the law, hence it should fail to see the light of the day as it is targeted only at Educators. An educationist, Yussuf Oriyomi, in his words said it is a necessary bill but one that should be extended to cover both the private and public sectors, and not only schools.
