The Federal Government of Nigeria has set out plans to introduce a national policy that will curb bullying and other vices in schools, with the aim of putting the national strategy into effect by early 2025. Dr. Tunji Alausa, the Minister of Education, revealed this initiative, which involves cooperation with the Ministry of Justice and will be presented to the National Council of Education for acceptance. The policy aims to make schools safer through all-encompassing approaches to bullying, cultism, drug abuse, and other vices that undermine academic performance and student wellbeing.
This policy is strengthened by the government’s zero-tolerance stance against bullying, which imposes harsh penalties on students, teachers, and principals who engage in bullying behavior or cover it up. In accordance with the Safe Schools Act, 125 principals from Unity College convened to discuss ways to combat bullying and to encourage discipline and moral behavior. Currently, Nigeria lacks specific regulations aimed at dealing with bullying in educational institutions and other settings. Although certain laws, such as the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act (2015) and the Child Rights Act (2003), implicitly address bullying-related issues such as physical or emotional abuse, they do not identify bullying as a separate crime.
Government action against bullying is timely.
Majority of anti-bullying measures in Nigeria are carried out through school rules or guidelines created by specific institutions, instead of being required by national law. These approaches specified how parents, teachers, students, and school officials can report bullying incidents, often through a confidential process. Under these measures, disciplinary processes cover warnings, counseling, and suspension, which are mostly not effectively enforced. This lack of explicit regulations has given rise to bullying in the country, affecting over 50% of Nigerian adolescents.
A study by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) found that almost 32% of Nigerian children between the ages of 12 and 17 have been the victim of bullying in one way or another. The government’s proactive move comes as bullying instances are on the rise, highlighting the critical need for legal frameworks to protect Nigerian students’ safety and wellbeing. One of the most prominent instances of bullying witnessed was the case of Sylvester Oromoni, a 12-year-old student at Dowen College, Lagos, who died following alleged violent bullying by senior students in 2021.
Proposed anti-bullying policy seeks to fill existing gaps.
More recently, a viral video of a female student being repeatedly slapped by her peer at Lead British International institution in Abuja aroused great anger. In another startling event that occurred just a few days ago, Imtiyas, an SS2 student at Beautiful Beginning Academy, which is situated in the Zone E Legislative Quarters of Apo, Abuja, was captured on camera to be involved in a severe bullying attack, carried out fellow students and severe physical abuse and chaining. These instances highlight a concerning trend of prior inattention and inadequate response from authorities when it comes to bullying.
In most cases, victims are left without adequate help or redress because schools lack comprehensive policies. The forthcoming national anti-bullying policy seeks to fill these gaps by providing precise definitions of bullying, channels for reporting and investigation, and sanctions for offenders. Additionally, it will raise awareness and provide educators with training on how to spot and stop bullying. While the government’s action is seen as a big start in the right direction, its effective implementation will necessitate concerted efforts among state officials, educators, and parents.
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Moreover, the policy also prioritises accountability through extensive structures, with the goal of establishing unambiguous reporting procedures and punitive measures for violators. These initiatives highlight how crucial it is for authorities, parents, and schools to work together to bring about long-lasting cultural change in educational institutions. By implementing this strategy, the Federal Government hopes to change the educational Culture in Nigeria and guarantee that all children have access to a setting free from intimidation and fear.