The Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, has stated that the Federal Ministry of Education will soon establish Sexual Offences Units in Higher Institutions of Learning in the country as well as in the ministry in order to stem the menace of sexual harassment.
He said this while receiving the report of the Committee on alleged sexual harassment by Prof. Cyril O. Ndifon, Dean, Faculty of Law, University of Calabar, in Abuja.
Prof. Tahir Mamman warned that any academia caught in the act of sexual harassment of female or male students will face severe sanction.
He explained 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 the nation’s educational system.
“Sexual harassment is a serious offence and must be dealt with decisively, when and whenever it occurred.
The Federal Ministry of Education will do everything humanly possible to stop the ugly tide in our institutions of higher learning”
He reiterated that he will evoke the long arm of the law to ensure that no one is allowed to take advantage of the vulnerable groups especially the female students.
Prof. Florence Banku Obi, the Vice Chancellor of the University, 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”
The Vice Chancellor further stated 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) as well as seven Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in order to ensure a very high degree of transparency.
