Nigeria’s outgoing parliament has finally passed a bill that aims to prevent the sexual harassment of university students.
Once it is signed into law by newly elected President Bola Tinubu it will be illegal for lecturers to make any sexual advances towards students.
Those who do have sexual relationships with their students could face up to 14 years in jail.
The anti-sexual harassment bill was originally introduced in 2016 but did not pass both houses of parliament.
It was reintroduced by the senate in 2019 following a BBC investigation that uncovered alleged sexual misconduct by lecturers in Nigeria and Ghana.
BBC Africa Eye’s Sex for Grades documentary prompted outrage, but the bill was further delayed as the house of representatives wanted some changes - and two parliamentary committees had to come to an agreement on the final wording.
Outgoing lawmakers are trying to wrap up business before newly elected MPs are sworn in next week.
A student told BBC news she was happy about the development and hoped President Tinubu would pass it into law soon.
Earlier in the month, a group of students had issued a statement to express their displeasure that the National Assembly had failed to pass it in time for his predecessor - President Muhammadu Buhari - to assent to it before leaving office.
Latest Stories
-
Town council in Canada at standstill over refusal to take King’s oath
22 mins -
Trump picks Pam Bondi as attorney general after Matt Gaetz withdraws
34 mins -
Providing quality seeds to farmers is first step towards achieving food security in Ghana
45 mins -
Kenya’s president cancels major deals with Adani Group
2 hours -
COP29: Africa urged to invest in youth to lead fight against climate change
2 hours -
How Kenya’s evangelical president has fallen out with churches
2 hours -
‘Restoring forests or ravaging Ghana’s green heritage?’ – Coalition questions Akufo-Addo’s COP 29 claims
2 hours -
Ensuring peaceful elections: A call for justice and fairness in Ghana
3 hours -
Give direct access to Global Health Fund – Civil Society calls allocations
4 hours -
Trudeau plays Santa with seasonal tax break
4 hours -
Prince Harry jokes in tattoo sketch for Invictus
4 hours -
Akufo-Addo commissions 200MW plant to boost economic growth
4 hours -
Smallholder farmers to make use of Ghana Commodity Exchange
5 hours -
I want to focus more on my education – Chidimma Adetshina quits pageantry
5 hours -
Priest replaced after Sabrina Carpenter shoots music video in his church
5 hours