Women’s Rights and Health Project (WRAHP), managers of Ireti Resource Centre, Lagos, Monday, appealed to President Bola Tinubu and the 10th National Assembly to give assent to the sexual harassment bill.
The bill, according to a statement by Bose Ironsi, executive director WRAHP, the bill would protect female students in higher institutions from sexual harassment.
She noted that about 70 percent of girls undergo sexual harassment in the tertiary institutions.
The statement reads: “Today 5th June, 2023, Women’s Rights and Health Project (WRAHP), managers of Ireti Resource Centre, Lagos, appeals to the National Assembly and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to assent to the Sexual Harassment of Students in Tertiary Educational Institutions (Prohibition) Bill.
According to the 2018 survey by the World Bank Group’s Women, Business and Law, 70 per cent of female graduates from Nigerian tertiary institutions have been sexually harassed in school.
“The bill seeks to protect students against sexual harassment, prevent sexual harassment of students by educators and promote ethical standards in tertiary institutions. We are concerned on why this very important bill has not been assented to despite efforts and supports by students, Civil Society Organisations, local and international partners, and so on.
“In 2016, the bill was sponsored by Sen. Ovie Omo-Agege and 57 other senators. The 8th assembly of the Senate passed the bill, but it was rejected by the House of Representatives when it was sent for concurrence.
“Again, Sen. Omo-Agege and 106 other Senators reintroduced the bill in 2019. It was passed in 2020 by both the Senate and House of Representatives, but was not signed by President Buhari.
“As an organisation that envision a just society where the dignity of women is respected and 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 Tinubu for assent.”
