Malik Yahya/
President Muhammadu Buhari has called for the enactment of stricter legislation to protect women and children from abuse.
Buhari, whose call coincided with this year’s International Day of the Girl Child, also admitted the need for the country to do more to address incidents of sexual violence and sexual abuse in her schools.
The President’s call, which is contained in a statement he shared via his verified Twitter handle, @MBuhari, today, marked his first reaction to the recent high profile revelation of sexual abuse cases in institutions of higher learning in the country.
Buhari said he is glad that the incident, exposed through under-cover news reporting at the University of Lagos, has spurred an amendment to our laws regarding the issue in the National Assembly.
He said such proposed amendments passed by the Legislature will get his support as long as they conform to the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
He also urged law enforcement agencies and school administrators to take up such cases with every seriousness and ensure that perpetrators face the consequences of their actions.
The President’s tweet read:
“Nigeria needs stricter laws to protect girls and women from abuse. I very much welcome the National Assembly’s proposed amendments to our laws, following the recent high-profile revelations of sexual abuse in our institutions of higher learning.
“I acknowledge that we need to do more as a country to address incidents of sexual violence and sexual abuse in our schools; and all forms of discrimination, human trafficking and cultural practices that violate women’s rights.
“I urge our law enforcement agencies and school administrators to take up such cases with every seriousness, and ensure that perpetrators face the consequences of their actions. The practice of shaming and silencing victims must also be discouraged by all.”
The BBC had last week released the ‘Sex-for-Grades’ video documentary, detailing the sexual harassment of female students by lecturers in the University of Lagos.
The two lecturers indicted in the video have been suspended and are being investigated by the university authorities.
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