ACADEMIC Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, has rejected the ongoing Sexual Harassment Offences Bill, in the Senate, saying the bill was targeted at lecturers. The body, which described the bill as vindictive, insisted that it undermined university autonomy.
Speaking yesterday, in Abuja, at a public hearing on the bill, organised by the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, ASUU, through its president, Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi, asked the Senate in particular and the National Assembly, in general not to allow the bill have its way. According to him, the nation’s universities and tertiary as a whole, were established by law as autonomous bodies and so, have their regulating roles. Professor Ogunyemi said the existing law prescribed punishments over misconduct generally among both staff and students,adding that the law clearly articulated appropriate redress mechanism.
“ Any law or bill which seeks to supplant these laws violates the university autonomy. “In this particular instance, the bill violates the Federal Government of Nigeria and ASUU agreement of 2009 and as such should be rejected,’’ he said.
He also said the bill was discriminatory because it was targeted at educators, insisting that it was unfair to come up with such a bill. He stressed that sexual harassment was a societal problem and not peculiar to tertiary institutions and so tertiary institutions should not be singled out for such law just as he said the bill was a violation of Section 42(1) of the 1999 Constitution , adding that it was embarrassing that the legislative arm could seek to make such that violated the constitution. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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What happened to d bastrads who were soliciting for sex in d US? I think d bill should also include public and private office holders
ReplyDeleteThis law is senseless and I'll advised.This bill is targeted at lecturers and exposes lecturers to be targeted by lazy and students that are poor academically. Yes some lecturers harass some students just like some students do also to some teachers.It is very difficult for a lecturer to harass any Serious intelligent students who do their work diligently and pass their exams. But those students who are never do well want to reap where they did not sow by carrying their bodies to their lecturers in exchange for marks. Some of the students want to make first class when they can even hardly defend a 3rd class. Such people can do anything to blackmail a lecturer that stands in their way. But this useless bill shows that the National Assembly has no job afterall there are constitutional and legal punishment for rape and intimidation or harassment with intent to take advantage of anyone. The schools also have their respective laws against that.So why waste valuable time on this bill?
ReplyDeleteWhy is ASUU so against a law punishing lecturers that blackmail students into sex? Its a major problem in our society and its hightime a specific bill was passed to curb this wicked and abhorrent act of evil.
ReplyDeleteIf the law is not targeted the educators would you want it to target the doctors? If sexual harassment is a societal ill, it should be targeted at session of the society that is found wanting. The way you are opposing the proposed bill sends a signal that our institutions of higher learning are now slaughtering ground for our educators.
ReplyDeleteHARRY
ReplyDeletewhy do u feel this bill is targeted at the lectures. if the so called lectures and teachers are innocent they should not worry and let the bill pass into law. it high time a bill like this is pass to curb the wickedness and evil act of some tutor.
in my humble opinion, i think this bill if passed, will make lecturer an endangered species. any body that has scores to settle with any lecturer can claim to be sexually harassed. i think the bill is defective in some aspect.
ReplyDeleteNo why are the lecturers shouting? They should leave them unchecked so they can continue to rape female students abi? How many lecturers have ever been sunction for this kind of offence in any of our higher institutions? If any student raise that kind of issue,all the lecturers will gang up against her and expelle her.I think this legislation is the best thing that can happen to the university and other higher institutions .
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