The Nigerian senate today at plenary ordered for full investigations into the sex for marks scandal which recently rocked the Obafemi Awolowo University OAU in Ile Ife where a female student Monica Osagie accused a lecturer of sexual harassment.
UPDATE: The Nigerian Senate has passed a Motion on the growing trend of sexual harassment in our higher institutions of learning — with a spotlight on the case of Miss Monica Osagie, an OAU student who named her lecturer in a ‘sex-for-grades’ scandal. pic.twitter.com/uW9SVGx1YS
— The Senate President (@SPNigeria) May 30, 2018
Ekiti state Senator Biodun Olujimi who moved the motion on the growing trend of sexual harassment in the higher institutions of learning, citing the case of Monica Osagie said there was the need to ensure that sexual perversion was kicked out of the country’s places of learning.
While seconding the motion, Lagos Senator Gbenga Ashafa said it was time for the Senate to rise up and support the recommendations raised by the sponsor of the motion and also, to invite those that have been affected as well.
Accordingly, the senate mandated its Committees on Tertiary Institutions and Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters to carry out a full scale investigation of the case of Monica Osagie and the OAU lecturer in order to ensure that there was transparency and accountability, and that satisfactory justice is done to the victim involved while further strengthening laws for its effectiveness.
It also urged the House of Representatives to move quickly to concur with the Senate Bill on Sexual Harassment in Tertiary Educational Institutions (Prohibition) Bill which has been transmitted to the House as this will provide succor and a window of solace for victims of these kind of atrocities across the country and in higher institutions of learning.
In his remarks on the motion, Senate President Bukola Saraki said; “As we all know we have passed this Bill as far back as 2016 so definitely we will act, through the Leader and Management to see that the House of Reps can quickly concur on this.
“More importantly while that is going on, the committee on Tertiary Institutions & Judiciary must make an example of this to ensure that we do a thorough investigation. Any member of the Obafemi Awolowo University that is involved must be thoroughly disciplined.
”We must really show that we do not stand for this and we are not going to tolerate it pending when the new Bill comes into place and also commend the bravery of Monica Osagie for her effort.”
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