By Emmanuel Aziken, Political Editor

A bill prescribing stringent sanctions for sexual predators in schools and allows victims of sexual harassment to file civil damages against predators, even after conviction, is pending in the Senate.

Bukola Saraki

The bill in a revolutionary step prescribes a minimum of two to five years compulsory imprisonment for administrative heads in schools that cover up sexual harassment petitions committed by teachers and lecturers.

The landmark bill initiated by Senator Ovie Omo-Agege (Delta Central) and co-sponsored by all female prescribes that vice chancellors of universities, rectors of polytechnics and other chief executives of institutions of higher learning will go to jail for two years if they fail to act within a week on complaints of sexual harassments made by students.

The bill which is scheduled for first reading permits sexually harassed students, their parents, or guardians to seek civil remedies in damages against sexual predator lecturers before or after their successful criminal prosecution by the State.