Frequency of teachers having sex with students worrisome, Ekiti govt tells NUT

Ekiti State government has expressed worries over the frequency at which some teachers in secondary schools in the state are having sex with their students.

The Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Olawale Fapohunda, expressed the state government’s concern on Friday at a meeting held with the state executive council of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) at the Ministry of Justice Academy.

According to the Attorney General, the meeting with the NUT was called to inform them of the ongoing joint investigations by his ministry and the state police command into allegations of sexual relationships in schools.

He, however, revealed that preliminary investigations by his office showed that some of the members of NUT are having sex with their students in at least three secondary schools in the state.

Fapohunda, who stated that the establishment of the Sex Offenders Register in the state, backed by the leadership provided by the wife of the state governor has created awareness among the population, said this has resulted in an increase in complaints of sexual violence directed to his ministry.

He said further that the increasing number of allegations of rape incidents in schools caused his office to formally advise the Ekiti State police command on the need for a thorough investigation of the situation.

The Attorney General noted that by the provisions of that law no child under the age of 18 can give consent for any sexual activity and according to him, “having sex with an under 18 is rape.”

“I find such reasoning unacceptable and deeply offensive. This is not about APC or PDP. It is simply despicable that anyone will play politics with the lives of our daughters. If our insistence that our daughters will not be raped will make us lose teachers’    votes, then let it be so,” he said.

He stated that “majority of teachers in the state are hard working, many working diligently under difficult conditions to ensure that their students excel. It is therefore important that the NUT take immediate and urgent action to identify the very few who are bringing the name of the union into disrepute.”

Responding, Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Teachers in the state, Mr Samuel Olusegun Olugbesan, described the commitment of the NUT to eradicating sexual violence in schools in the state.

Olugbesan said that the NUT currently sponsors a weekly radio programme where issues affecting teachers in the state are discussed. He, however, promised that the union will intensify its efforts on creating awareness among its members.

The NUT Chairmam said he agreed with the observation of the Attorney General that majority of the teachers in the state are hardworking and commitment to their professional code of ethics. He said that the NUT will take urgent additional measures in responding to the situation.

While also urging the Attorney General to temper justice with mercy in the ongoing cases, Olugbesan said any teacher subsequently found culpable will be left to face the full wrath of the law.

The meeting was attended by senior officers of the Ministry of Justice and the Nigeria Union of Teachers in Ekiti State.