By Ihechi Enyinnaya
The Minister of Education, Professor Tahir Mamman, has warned members of the academia and the university community over matters of sexual harassment on campuses,
The Federal Government on Thursday warned that it will deal decisively with perpetrators of sexual harassment on courses by members of the academia and the university community.
Minister of Education, Professor Tahir Mamman, gave the warning in his office in Abuja when he received the report of the Committee on alleged sexual harassment by the suspended Dean of Law Faculty at the University of Calabar, Prof. Cyril O. Ndifon.
A statement byDirector Press and Public Relations of the Ministry, Ben. Bem Goong, Prof. Mamman said sexual harassment is a serious criminal offence and must be dealt with decisively, when and whenever it occurs.
It said the Federal Ministry of Education will do everything humanly possible to tame the ugly tide in the nation’s institutions of Higher Learning.
He said the offence of sexual harassment is cancerous and must be eliminated at all cost, adding that all hands must be on deck to tackle the menace in our educational system.
The Minister maintained that the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is out to protect the vulnerable groups within the country’s educational system.
While reiterating that he will invoke the long arms of the law to ensure that perpetrators are adequately punished, the Minister added that no one will be allowed to take advantage of the vulnerable groups.
He further disclosed that sexual offences units will be established in the Ministry and all institutions of Higher Learning to deal with the menace.
While presenting of the report, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Calabar, Prof. Florence Banku Obi, said the university has followed all due processes in handling the matter, including the suspension of the suspect, appropriate queries and setting up of a disciplinary committee to hear from all parties.