Stephen Enoch
Members of the Anti-Sexual Harassment Advocacy (ASHA) cluster, a consortium of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) working to address the prevalence of sexual harassment in tertiary institutions in Nigeria have urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to sign the sexual harassment of students in tertiary educational institutions (prohibition) bill into law.
ASHA during a press briefing on Friday at Tahir Guest Palace recalled recorded exchanges where lecturers were caught harassing female students which was disclosed to the media, ultimately exposing anomalies among segments of the academia.
Speaking on behalf of the Cluster, Kabiru Dakata the Executive Director of the Centre for Awareness on Justice and Accountability (CAJA), stated that the 9th National Assembly passed the Anti-Sexual Harassment Bill to promote and protect ethical standards in tertiary institutions.
He added that it also seeks to prevent and protect students against sexual harassment by educators in tertiary institutions, pointing out that the bill has been transmitted to President Tinubu for his assent.
Dakata noted that while the coalition acknowledges the commitment of Tinubu’s administration to increase access to and quality of education at all levels, it is essential to pay attention to a safe environment for learning where students will be protected against any form of harassment.
“The cluster has meticulously studied the content of the bill and based on experience in working with the survivors of sexual harassment in tertiary institutions, they are confident that the bill, if assented to, will provide a uniform law that will address the rampant cases of sexual harassment in tertiary institutions in Nigeria.
“In view of this, we are appealing to your good office, to assent to this bill that will serve as a shield between the innocent female students and bad eggs among lecturers and other staff who hide under this noble profession, to commit this heinous crime of Sexual Harassment.” He said.
Members of the cluster include; the Centre for Awareness on Justice and Accountability (CAJA), Youth Alive Foundation (YAF), Gender Mobile Initiative, Village Debbo Care Initiative (VDCare), Sefjamil Media and Development (SMD), Joint Association of Persons with Disability (JONAPWD), Gombe State Chapter, Women`s Rights and Health Project (WRAHP) and Connected Development—Akwa Ibom State (CODE).
