FG To Establish Sexual Offences Unit In School

Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, has said any academia caught in the act of sexual harassment of female or male students will face severe sanction.
He gave the warning when he received report of the committee on alleged sexual harassment by Prof. Cyril O. Ndifo, dean, Faculty of Law of the University of Calabar in Abuja, yesterday.
The minister maintained that the offence of sexual harassment is cancerous and must be eliminated at all cost, thus soliciting the support of all stakeholders including the management of the universities to tackle the menace in Nigeria’s educational system.
“Sexual harassment is a serious criminal offence and must be dealt with decisively, when and whenever it occurs. The Federal Ministry of Education will do everything humanly possible to stop the ugly tide in our institutions of higher learning.”
While reiterating that he will evoke the long arm of the law to ensure perpetrators are adequately punished, the minister promised to ensure that no one will be allowed to take advantage of the vulnerable groups especially the female students.
He disclosed that sexual offenses units will be established in the ministry and all institutions of higher learning to deal with the menace.
Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Florence Banku Obi, who presented the report of the disciplinary panel to the minister, confirmed that due processes were followed in handling the matter.
“We started by first suspending the suspect, issued him with appropriate queries and also set up a disciplinary committee to hear all parties.”
She confirmed that the institution also engaged the services of the Public Complaint Commission (PCC), Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), the Federation of Female Lawyers, 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 (CSOs) in order to ensure a very high degree of transparency.