Nigerian Government Reads Riot Act Over Sexual Harassments in Universities

As a follow up to the University of Calabar sex scandal involving the suspended Dean of the Faculty of Law, Prof. Cyril Ndifon, the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, has warned members of the academia and the university community over matters of sexual harassment on campuses.

He stressed that the ministry would deal decisively with perpetrators of such acts.
The Minister gave the warning while addressing members of the press on Thursday, in his office in Abuja, when he received the report of the committee on alleged sexual harassment by Ndifon.

Maman, said sexual harassment was a serious criminal offence and must be dealt with decisively, when and whenever it occurs, adding that the ministry would do everything humanly possible to tame the ugly tide in institutions of higher learning.

He noted that the offence of sexual harassment was cancerous and must be eliminated at all cost, adding that all hands must be on the deck to tackle the menace in the educational system.

While reiterating that he would evoke the long arm of the law to ensure that perpetrators are adequately punished, the Minister added that no one would be allowed to take advantage of the vulnerable groups.

The Minister disclosed that sexual offences units would be established in the Ministry and all institutions of higher learning to deal with the menace.

“Sexual harassment is a serious criminal offence and must be dealt with decisively, when and whenever it occurs,” he said, adding that the ministry would “do everything humanly possible to tame the ugly tide in our institutions of higher learning”.

“This offence of sexual harassment is cancerous and must be eliminated at all cost. Therefore, all hands must be on deck to tackle the menace in our educational system” he said.

Earlier in the presentation of her report, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Calabar, Prof. Florence Banku Obi, told the Minister that the university has followed all due processes in handling the matter including the suspension of the suspect, appropriate queries and setting up of a disciplinary committee to hear all parties.

In order to ensure a very high degree of transparency, the Vice-Chancellor said the Public Complaint Commission, Nigeria Bar Association, the Federation of Female Lawyers, (FIDA)Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, (ICPC) the Chief Judge of the Student’s Union High Court as well as seven civil society organizations were brought on board the committee as observers.

Kuni Tyessi

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