By Paul Effiong, Abuja
House of Representatives has passed the Bill seeking stiffer punishment for all forms of sexual harasment in tertiary Institutions.
Sponsor of the Bill and Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Akin Rotimi, while briefing the media shortly after plenary yesterday, identified the Bill as one of the legacy bills of the 10th House.
According to him, the bill when passed into law, will foster greater protection among all, especially female folks across tertiary institutions in the country.
The lawmaker explained that the expected legislation was initially passed into law by the ninth National Assembly but was denied assent by the president.
Synopsis of the bill revealed that the main objective is to prohibit sexual harassment of students in all tertiary institutions.
The bill, when eventually passed into law, will also criminalise the act of neglect or failure of administrative heads of tertiary institutions to address complaints of sexual harassment within a specified period of time
It was gathered that the expected legislation will also create a strict liability offence by removing mutual consent as a defense in the prosecution of sexual harassment cases in tertiary institutions; maintaining and sustaining the relationship that exists between educators and students with the aim of making tertiary institution a conducive center of learning.
Acvording to the lawmaker, the bill was enacted to promote and protect ethical standards in tertiary education, sanctity of the student-educator fiduciary relationship of authority, dependency, trust and respect for human dignity in tertiary institutions by providing for the protection of students against sexual harassment by educators.
Speaking in support of the bill, President of the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, Lucky Omonife noted that the bill will build confidence in the learning process for students, stressing that it will address harassment in the academic environment.
Also speaking in support, some stakeholders reiterated that the policy was not enough and needs a legal framework.
They called on all civil society organisations to join in ensuring the passage of the bill at the Senate.
It would be recalled that the Bill was introduced in the ninth Assembly by Julius Ihonvbare in the House and former Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege, but failed presidential assent before it was reintroduced in the 10th Assembly by Rotimi.
Information Minister To Media: Do Not Lose Guard In Defence Of Democracy
By Joel Ajayi, Abuja
Minister of Information, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, has urged the media not to lose guard in the defence of democracy in Nigeria.
This was contained in a press release signed by his Special Assistant (Media), Rabiu Ibrahim.
Idris stated this on Tuesday when the executive council of the Nigerian Guild of Editors, NGE, paid him a courtesy visit to inform him of the preparations for the 20th All Nigeria Editors Conference, ANEC, scheduled to take place in Yenagoa, Bayelsa state, from November 6-9.
According to him, “Nigeria’s democratic journey was hard fought for by all, with the media playing a leading role in the struggle against military dictatorship, therefore, 24 years after, the media should not be seen to be losing guard at this critical juncture. What it must do is to sustain and reinforce its time-honoured support for democracy”.
The minister assured the NGE executives led by its President, Mr Eze Anaba, that the government of President Bola Tinubu is fully committed to entrenching democratic values, particularly adherence to the tenets of press freedom.
Besides, more than ever before, Idris added that the media is looked up to as beacons in prioritising the preservation of Nigeria’s democracy, peace, unity and national security in their coverage of national issues.
He added that the Tinubu administration will continue to support the media through special interventions to ease the pains associated with their operations, such as providing single-digit loans through the Bank of Industry, even as the need to mitigate the high cost of newsprint is a a top priority.
The NGE president, in his remarks, said the 20th ANEC in Bayelsa State promises to be a landmark event with the theme – “Economic Growth and Development Strategies in a Resource-Rich Country”, which he said conforms with Nigeria’s current realities and the urgent need for solutions.
