A Civic advocacy group, Women’s Rights and Health Project (WRAHP), has appealed to the 10th National Assembly and President Bola Tinubu to assent to the Sexual Harassment of Students in Tertiary Educational Institutions (Prohibition) Bill.
The Bill if assented to, would protect students against sexual harassment by educators and promote ethical standards in tertiary institutions in Nigeria.
The non-governmental, non-profit organization and Managers of Ireti Resource Centre, Lagos State, in a statement issued to journalists.
The group expressed concern why the bill has not been assented to despite efforts and supports by students, Civil Society Organizations, local and international partners, and so on.
The statement noted that a 2018 World Bank survey conducted revealed that over 70% female graduates have been sexually harassed in different tertiary institutions in Nigeria.
It also stressed that the Sexual Harassment of Students in Tertiary Educational Institutions (Prohibition) bill, if assented to, would protect students against sexual harassment by educators and promote ethical standards in tertiary institutions in Nigeria.
The non-governmental, non-profit organization and Managers of Ireti Resource Centre, Lagos State, in a statement issued to journalists in Benin City, expressed concern why the bill has not been assented to despite efforts and supports by students, Civil Society Organizations, local and international partners, and so on.
The Organization explained that the Bill, which was sponsored in 2016, by Sen. Ovie Omo-Agege and 57 other senators, was passed by the 8th Assembly, but rejected by the House of Representatives.
It recalled that Senator Ovie Omo-Agege and 106 other Senators reintroduced the bill in 2019 and was passed in 2020 by both the Senate and House of Representatives but was not signed by President Buhari.
“As an organization that visions a just society where the dignity of women, young people and communities is respected and they enjoy sound health and maximize their potentials.
“We therefore appeal to the new legislators of the 10th Assembly to make this bill a priority by ensuring its timely passage and transmission to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for assent”, the rights group stated.
It further assured that the passage of the bill would elicit confidence of parents and guardians about the safety and protection of their young ones in higher institutions.
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