The Nigerian Senate has passed the Sexual Harassment of Students (Prevention and Prohibition) Bill, 2025 (HB.1597), proposing prison terms of up to 14 years for educators found guilty of sexually harassing students in Nigerian tertiary institutions.
The bill, which was presented by the Senate Deputy Leader,Senator Oyelola Ashiru,during plenary on Wednesday, November 5,2025,seeks to address recurring reports of lecturers coercing students for grades, admission advantages or other academic favours.
According to Ashiru, the bill was introduced to ensure students are protected from all forms of sexual misconduct and abuse within academic settings.
He said it was enacted to promote and protect ethical standards in tertiary education, the sanctity of the student‑educator relationship of authority, dependency and respect for human dignity.
It also aims to establish clear legal frameworks for enforcement and punishment of offenders.
The provisions and penalties
under the bill include:
▪Any person who commits offences specified in Clause 4 (1), (2) and (3) is liable on conviction to up to 14 years imprisonment, with a minimum of five years, and no option of a fine.
▪Those found guilty of offences under Clause 4 (4), (5) and (6) face imprisonment of up to 5 years, but not less than two years, again with no fine option.
▪Any person who commits any of the offences or acts specified in Clause 4 (4), (5) and (6) of this Bill is guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to an imprisonment term of up to 5 years but not less than 2 years, without an option of a fine.
The bill further allows a student who alleges harassment to initiate a civil action for breach of fiduciary duty; in such cases, the standard of proof will mirror that of civil proceedings. The offences outlined include demanding sexual favours, making sexual advances, inducing others to commit harassment, unwanted touching, or sexual gestures.
