The House of Representatives, halted concurrence with the Senate on “A Bill for an Act to make provisions for the Prohibition and Punishment of Sexual Harassment of Students in Educational Institutions and for other related matters”. The Bill was scheduled for debate at a plenary session of House on Thursday, March 23rd 2017.
Leading the debate, Majority Leader, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila (APC: Lagos) stated that the Bill failed to take into consideration the fact that sexual harassment goes beyond educational institutions. Hon. Femi explained that in recent times, the work place has been considered to be an environment with incessant cases of sexual harassment and suggested that its scope should be expanded to deal with such situations.
However, Hon. Aminu Shehu Shagari (APC: Sokoto) held a contrary view. Hon. Shagari stated that the Bill specifically sought to address the issues of sexual harassment in educational institutions, and therefore left it open for other Members to consider sponsorship of a bill dealing with the issues raised by Hon. Gbajabiamila.
Following the expression of opposing views of Members, the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara (APC: Bauchi) resolved that the Chairman Committee on Rules and Business, Hon. Emmanuel Orker-Jev (APC: Benue) meet with the Senate for further deliberations on these areas of concern.
