The Sokoto State Government has officially banned all “signing-out” celebrations by graduating secondary school students across the state, citing growing concerns over indiscipline and public disorder associated with the trend.
The announcement was made on Thursday by the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Professor Ahmad Ladan Ala, who said the practice, once a harmless expression of joy, has now “degenerated into acts of vandalism, misconduct, and distractions from the core values of education.”
“This decision affects both public and private schools in the state,” Ala stated. “We’ve seen a disturbing pattern where students use signing-out events as an excuse for rowdy behaviour, destruction of property, and disruptions to public peace.”
According to the commissioner, the directive is part of wider efforts by the state government to reinforce discipline, academic focus, and respect for societal norms within the school system.
“All school principals have been directed to prevent any form of signing-out activities, whether on school premises or outside,” he added.
The circular announcing the ban, signed by Abubakar Abdullahi, Director of Examination Matters in the Ministry of Education, mandates full compliance by all heads of secondary schools.
The ministry also appealed to parents and guardians to play a supportive role by discouraging their children from participating in activities that undermine discipline and decorum.
“This is not a clampdown on celebration,” Ala clarified. “We’re simply restoring order and ensuring our schools reflect the values we aim to instill in our young people.”
The “signing-out” tradition, widely practiced in Nigerian secondary schools, usually involves students scribbling farewell messages on uniforms, organizing informal parties, and in some cases, taking to the streets in celebration.
