President Muhammadu Buhari has backed the amendment of sexual harassment bill that will protect the girl child from sexual abuse in school.
In 2016, the 8th Senate passed the “Sexual Harassment Prohibition Bill” where it prescribed a 5-year jail term for any lecturer found guilty of sexual harassment but President Muhammadu Buhari withheld assent.
While reacting to the recent high profile revelation of sexual abuse cases in higher institutions, President Buhari harped on stricter laws to prevent the abuses.
Buhari said he is glad that the incident exposed through under-cover news reporting at the University of Lagos, has spurred an amendment to our laws regarding the issue in the National Assembly. President Buhari said such proposed amendments passed by the Legislature would get his support as long as they conform to the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“The country must do more to address incidents of sexual violence, sexual abuses in our schools, discrimination, human trafficking and cultural practices that violate women’s rights,” said the President.
He urged law enforcement agencies and school administrators to take up such cases with every seriousness and ensure that perpetrators face the consequences of their actions.
“Survivors and their families must avoid cover up. They should be encouraged to come forth and report cases of abuses wherever and whenever they occur,” the President demanded.
