Read what senators said about sexual harassment bill today

– The sexual harassment bill scaled second reading on the floor of the Senate today

– The lawmakers expressed their support for the passage of the bill to bring sanity back to tertiary institutions in the country

– Some senators also stressed that the bill should also be stretched to other sectors in the country

Senator Abdulahi Yaya representing Taraba North constituency on Tuesday, May 24 said all sectors must be included in the sexual harassment bill.

Yaya said this while making contributions to a bill sponsored by Ovie Omo-Agege representing Delta Central senatorial district on the floor of the Senate in Abuja.

The bill in contention is titled “a bill for an act to make provision for the prohibition of sexual harassment of students by educators in tertiary educational institutions and for other related matters, 2016.”

He also said that a particular sector should not be sidelined to pass this law because harassment is found in different sectors of the society.

“Sexual harassment is sexual harassment whether in the Senate or anywhere. Dino is fund of harassing women in their own presence.

“I have a very good experience about what happens in the university. There are certain areas where this is punishable.

READ ALSO: Lecturers engaged in sexual harassment face jail term

“If we have to make a law targeting a particular segment of the society, i think it is discriminatory,” he said.

However, other lawmakers expressed their support towards the passage of the bill and urged their colleagues to hasten its passage.

Omo-Agege said this is the time to strengthen laws against sexual harrasment as the bill will make the tertiary institution a better place for women to study.

“This 8th senate is sending a message that enough is enough. Now is the time to strengthen our laws against sexual harrasment.

“With this bill, we are refusing to adjudicate our role. This bill is an assurance that when we send our daughters, nieces and wives to these institutions, the educators will be their mentors,” he said.

Olujimi Biodun representing Ekiti South senatorial district said the tertiary institutions are not the only place where harassment exists as Yaya stated.

She added that the Senate must stand up for women to avoid being harrased at will by the perpertarators.
Stella Oduah representing Anambra North senatorial district said that sexual harrasment ruins the lives of the victims.

She also expressed support for the bill adding that when it is passed, the bill will bring sanity to tertairy institutions.

However, Dino Melaye while making his contributions supported the bill adding that schools should also have minimum dressing standards.

Melaye said that these girls dress in a provocative manner to seduce the lecturers but not all of them have the power to resist the ladies.

READ ALSO: Sexual harassment in Queens College exposed

Thereafter, Senate president Bukola Saraki asked that the bill should be fastracked due to its importance. The bill was referred to committee on judiciary, human rights and legal maters to report back in four weeks.

The bill which passed second reading was read for the first time on Wednesday, May 4 2016.

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