FG Unveils Tough Measures Against School Bullies, Warns of Expulsion and Public Exposure

(Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa. Photo Credit: Sun Nigeria)

The federal government intensified its nationwide campaign against bullying in schools on Wednesday, threatening severe disciplinary actions, including as suspension, expulsion, and public identification, for students found guilty of intimidating or assaulting their peers.

The warning coincided with a sensitization workshop held in Abuja by the Federal Ministry of Education and the Universal Basic Education Commission, or UBEC, to encourage safer learning settings nationwide and advance the implementation of the National Policy on Anti-Bullying.

The workshop, themed “Sensitisation Workshop for Students and Teachers on the National Policy on Anti-Bullying and the Effects of Bullying,” brought together students and teachers from schools across the Federal Capital Territory, representing millions of learners nationwide.

Speaking at the event, UBEC Deputy Executive Secretary, Hon. Razak Olajuwon, said the campaign reflects the Tinubu administration’s determination to eradicate bullying and ensure that every Nigerian child learns in a safe, inclusive and supportive environment.

He described bullying as a widespread problem that continues to inflict psychological, emotional and academic harm on students, stressing that the government would no longer tolerate it.

According to him, school authorities have been empowered to enforce the anti-bullying policy, with sanctions ranging from suspension and expulsion to what he described as public exposure for offenders.

He explained that no student wants to be suspended or expelled, noting that publicly identifying students for bullying affects them psychologically and also impacts their parents and guardians, adding that such measures are intended to discourage the behaviour.

He urged students to break the culture of silence by reporting every case of bullying, insisting that victims and witnesses have a responsibility to speak out, stressing that remaining silent while another student is being bullied only worsens the situation and that bullying affects victims mentally, psychologically, and ultimately their academic performance.

Olajuwon disclosed that the Ministry of Education and UBEC have intensified awareness campaigns in schools, adding that sustained engagement has already led to a noticeable decline in reported bullying cases.

He maintained that government would continue strengthening preventive measures while ensuring offenders are held accountable, stressing that bullying goes against the country’s educational values and cannot be allowed to thrive within the system.

Also speaking, Executive Director of the Sustainable Solutions for Youths and the Vulnerable Initiative (SSYVI), Ayotola Ilori, called for a coordinated national response involving government, civil society organisations, development partners, the media and the private sector.

Describing bullying as a persistent challenge in Nigerian schools, she urged students to become defenders of victims rather than passive observers, stressing that everyone must act as upstanders rather than bystanders, since staying silent is part of the problem.

Ilori warned that bullying leaves lasting emotional scars on victims, often resulting in fear, anxiety, trauma, poor academic performance and an unsafe learning environment.

She identified verbal, physical, social and cyber bullying as the major forms confronting students, stressing the need for deliberate efforts to eliminate all of them, and reaffirmed her organisation’s commitment to safeguarding children and supporting initiatives that promote violence-free schools, describing bullying as a deliberate act that must not be tolerated.

The Africa Principals Conference Initiative also threw its weight behind the government’s anti-bullying campaign.

Its representative, Ayodele Joseph, described the workshop as timely and pledged the support of school administrators in implementing the policy across educational institutions.

Stating that principals nationwide would work closely with relevant authorities to ensure the anti-bullying policy is fully adopted and enforced in schools, fostering a culture of respect, inclusion and safety for all learners.