In a bid to stem the tide of sexual-related violence in learning institutions across the country, lecturers and teachers in various institutions of learning across Nigeria are now required to sign the Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse Code of Conduct form.
The Federal Ministry of Justice and Education in a recently launched standard operating procedure for the prosecution of perpetrators of school-related gender-based violence cases in Nigeria prohibits teachers to engage in sexual relationships with direct beneficiaries between 18 and 24.
Teachers are also barred from holding, hugging, or touching students/learners in an inappropriate or culturally insensitive way.
In addition, teachers are prohibited from staying in secluded areas alone with students.
The form partly read, “I agree that I will not abuse or exploit students/learners; engage in any form of sexual activity or develop physical/sexual relationships with anyone under the age of 18 outside the school environment. I understand that mistaking the age of the child is not an excuse.
“(I will not) engage in sexual relationships with direct beneficiaries ages 18-24.
“(I will not) engage youth(s) in any form of sexual activity which involves the exchange of money, employment, goods or services for sex. This includes sexual favours or other forms of humiliating or exploitative behaviour.
“(I will not) use language or behave towards a student/learner in a way that is inappropriate, offensive, abusive, sexually provocative, demeaning, or culturally inappropriate.
“(I will not) hold, hug, or touch students/learners in an inappropriate or culturally insensitive way.
“(I will not) do things of a personal nature for students/learners with whom I am in contact at work that they can do for themselves (for example, taking them to the toilet or helping them get undressed.
The government in the SOP also directed learning institutions to create a procedure for recruiting staff members that can detect paedophiles and other perpetrators of sexual offences against students/learners.
When contacted, the President, Academic Staff Union of Universities, Prof Emmanuel Osodeke, declined to comment on the development, saying he had yet to get a copy of the SOP.
“I have not seen the standard operating procedure. I can’t comment on it,” he simply said.