Nasarawa State Government Bans Elaborate Graduations and Indecent Dressing in Schools

               By Nuhu Murtala

In a decisive move to reinforce discipline and uphold moral standards, the Nasarawa State Government has imposed a comprehensive ban on indecent dressing and unauthorized graduation ceremonies across all primary, secondary, and tertiary institutions.

The directive was issued during a pre-resumption stakeholders’ meeting in Lafia for the 2025/2026 academic session. The meeting was chaired by the Honourable Commissioner for Education, Dr. John D. W. Mamman, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Mr. Mohammad Sani Bala.

The government expressed concern over the growing prevalence of activities it says undermine the integrity of the education system. These include indecent dressing, unauthorized “signed-out” ceremonies, extended lessons without parental consent, and elaborate graduation parties for classes other than final-year students.

Key directives issued by the ministry include:

· Restricted Graduations: Formal graduation ceremonies are now permitted only for exit classes—Primary 6 and Senior Secondary 3 (SS3). Events must be modest, and schools are prohibited from charging students fees to participate.

· "Signed-Out" Parties Banned: The popular “signed-out” celebrations traditionally held by school leavers are strictly prohibited.

· Limited Lesson Times: Lesson periods cannot be extended beyond official school hours without obtaining written parental consent.

· Transfer of Learning Materials: Schools must ensure textbooks and learning materials are transferable. Students receiving used materials cannot be forced to purchase new copies.

· Academic Calendar Enforcement: All institutions must strictly adhere to the state-approved academic calendar. Mid-term breaks have been suspended and replaced with open days to improve parent-teacher engagement.

· Operation Without Approval: No school is permitted to operate without formal approval from the Ministry of Education, with defaulters facing sanctions.

Speaking on the rationale behind the new policies, Dr. Mamman stated:

“These measures are aimed at strengthening discipline, promoting positive values, and creating a conducive learning environment for our students. The government is fully committed to ensuring that our education system produces not only academically sound but also morally upright citizens.”

The Ministry has urged all school proprietors, administrators, teachers, and parents to comply fully. Monitoring and enforcement teams will be deployed to ensure adherence as the new academic session begins.