Sexual harassment bill: YAF, ASUU disagree on modalities- The high prevalence of sex for grades in tertiary institutions has prompted a bill on sexual harassment - A group, Youth Alive Foundation has been building a multiple stakeholders platform and a strategic national advocacy campaign to address the issues - The Academic Staff Union of Universities, however, thinks the bill is unnecessary, saying there are other laws to address the issue The proposed Sexual Harassment of Students in Tertiary Educational Institution Prohibition Bill has pitched the Youth Alive Foundation (YAF) against the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU). While YAF is in support of the bill, ASUU is proposing a review of existing laws on sexual harassment in tertiary institutions rather than formulating new ones. ASUU national president, Professor Biodun Ogunyemi, stated this at a public hearing in the Nigerian Senate on Monday, February 17 organised by the Senate committee on judiciary, human rights and legal matters headed by Senator Bamidele Opeyemi from Ekiti state. Read also Govt didn't allow us improve healthcare back home - Nigerian doctors abroad The bill which is sponsored by the Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege, scaled 2nd reading at the Senate on in November 2019. It seeks to prohibit sexual harassment in tertiary educational institutions and imposes stiff punitive measures on perpetrators. In her submission at the hearing, Executive Director of YAF, Dr Uduak Okon said that the independent prohibitions committee should be protected because it is the first point of redress for students. PAY ATTENTION: Get the Latest Nigerian News 24/7. Spend less on the Internet! Her words: “The committee is the first point of redress for students where cases of assault can be reported, it can be investigated and sanctions can happen. “It is only when students are not happy that they can now take cases externally to high courts, but how many students can afford high courts. “We have to ensure that we protect that committee so that it does what it is meant to do. Read also Hypo educates on coronavirus at Agege Abattoir “This is not about lecturers. This is a menace. This bill is about those lecturers that are perpetrating these offences, identifying them and giving sanctions. “They should instead see it as a situation for ASUU to clear their names and sanitise their reputation. ASUU has to stop feeling threatened by this bill.” On his part, Professor Ogunyemi said that ASUU was not in support of sexual harassment in any form, noting there was an existing law that addressed issues related to sexual harassment, stressing that there was no point wasting time on another law. His words: “We have the Act of 2015. We should reconcile this bill with that act to cover our new areas of concern. “Are we also going to formulate a separate law to address corruption in universities; are we going to formulate other laws to address sexual harassment in the police. “If we find laws that are deficient, what does it cost to review it. This bill has failed to take cognisance of various extant legislation that currently deal with sexual offences.” Read also FG advised on what to do to win the war against insurgency He further said that there was a need to review the existing laws and recognise the autonomy of the universities. “The autonomy law of 2007, legislated by the National Assembly already made provisions for us to address all of these. We talk of the institutional procedures; these procedures are irreconcilable with a prosecution. “There are aspects that are criminal; immediately such instance happens, we know where to go. “Universities are currently handling problems like this and we should not discredit our custodians of knowledge,” Professor Ogunyemi said. Recall that YAF under its Youth Participation Against Corruption (Y-PAC) launched an initiative tagged SHE campaign four months ago. SHE stands for Sexual Harassment in Higher Education. Already, YAF and its partners are implementing the SHE campaign in 5 states and 13 tertiary institutions across Nigeria. The campaign conducted a national survey in 19 tertiary institutions across six states which sampled over 3000 students. Read also How US-based doctors network is providing jobs, connecting black people to opportunities Findings showed that 51.7% of female undergraduates had suffered one form of sexual violence or another in school. The survey further provided evidence of the prevalent rate of sexual harassment in Higher Education in Nigeria. NAIJ.com (naija.ng) - Legit.ng. We have upgraded to serve you better #Sexforgrades: Who should be held responsible; students, lecturers or society? | Legit TV Source: Legit.ng - The high prevalence of sex for grades in tertiary institutions has prompted a bill on sexual harassment - A group, Youth Alive Foundation has been building a multiple stakeholders platform and a strategic national advocacy campaign to address the issues - The Academic Staff Union of Universities, however, thinks the bill is unnecessary, saying there are other laws to address the issue PAY ATTENTION: NAIJ.com Legit.ng.