Disturbed by the rising cases of sexual harassment of students across Nigeria’s tertiary institutions, the immediate past Senate President, Bukola Saraki on Monday urged the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government and leadership of the National Assembly to revisit the Sexual Harassment Bill passed by the 8th senate in order the end of the troubling trend in the country.
He made the remark via his official Twitter handle, @Bukolasaraki, in reaction to the viral video of Boniface Igbeneghu, a lecturer from the Department of European Languages, University of Lagos (UNILAG).
Saraki’s words, “As a father, I’m appalled by the actions of lecturers captured in the #SexForGrades exposé. We cannot allow this sort of deplorable behaviour to fester.
In 2016, my colleagues & I in the 8th Senate passed the “Sexual Harassment in Tertiary Education Institution Prohibition Bill” to prescribe a 5-year jail term for any lecturer, educationist or person in a position of authority in any tertiary institution in Nigeria found guilty of such conduct.
I appeal to the 9th Senate & President Buhari to revisit this Bill so that we can implement the institutional reforms necessary to safeguard our children in educational institutions in the country.
I also urge the institutions to conduct robust investigations not only on the accused but also for all other reports and complaints that come in. We need to believe victims and make institutions safer for our students.
Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki. (@Bukolasaraki)