President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, has lamented the increase of sexual harassment in places of learning across the country, describing it as a dangerous trend that has a significant impact on the quality of learning, life and dignity of Nigerian children as a whole.

Saraki spoke Monday during a public hearing session to provide for the prohibition of incidences of sexual harassment in Nigerian tertiary institutions. He noted that the menace has the potential of hindering academic excellence among our students, most especially the female students.

The Senate President said: “Sexual harassment incidences are beginning to factor dangerously in our higher institutions in such a manner that we can no longer ignore otherwise we will be abdicating our responsibility to make laws for the peace, order and good government of the Federation.”

He emphasised further that one of the greatest achievements African women have made in their quest for empowerment has been in the area of education, maintaining that “when the bill is passed into law, it would further make the academic environment more accommodating for all who seek excellence.”

Saraki maintained there are laws dealing with sexual offences in general, just like there are laws for many other offences. He quipped: “We are paying significant attention and treating this matter as a special challenge that requires specific and more deterring direct attention, and this is in recognition of the many dimensions of its impact. We are also doing this to further send a message to all those who have utilised the seeming gaps in our body of laws to perpetrate this evil and destroy the hope of our children.”

He however commended the initiator of the bill, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, for the timeliness and thoroughness and also the Senate committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters for their commitment in making the bill a good piece of legislation.

Saraki concluded that the Senate would ensure that the bill is passed into law, so that Nigerian students can have the best possible protection of the law to ensure that sexual depravity is no longer a factor of consideration as they seek to shape their future and enhance national productivity through learning.

•Photo shows Saraki.