By Muhammed Danjuma Ogwu, Lafia
In a decisive move to restore discipline and protect the integrity of its academic environment, the Federal Polytechnic Nasarawa has announced sweeping measures targeting student misconduct — including a total ban on final-year “sign-out” parties and a zero-tolerance stance on drugs, alcohol, firearms, and indecent dressing.
The management’s latest directive marks a bold response to rising concerns over security breaches and moral decay during graduation seasons, where rowdiness, drug abuse, and public disturbances have become recurring issues.
A statement issued by the Acting Director of Information and Publicity, Safina Sabo, on Thursday in Lafia, made it clear: the era of unchecked celebrations and irresponsible behavior is over.
“This institution will not condone lawlessness,” Sabo stated. “Any student found with firearms, illicit substances, or alcoholic drinks on campus will be arrested and prosecuted. Expulsion or exam cancellation will follow any breach of this new policy.”
Perhaps the most symbolic change is the indefinite suspension of the widely celebrated “sign-out” tradition — a rite of passage where final-year students often mark their exit with T-shirt signatures, money sprays, and parties. The ban, which applies before and after final exams, was reached after a crucial meeting between school authorities, student union leaders, class representatives, and school senators on June 2, 2025.
“All graduating students will now be required to sign an official undertaking to obey the new regulations,” the statement read. “Defaulters risk harsh academic and disciplinary consequences.”
In addition to curbing drug and firearm-related offences, the institution is also clamping down on provocative dressing. “Any form of immoral or indecent appearance capable of damaging the reputation of the school will not be tolerated,” Sabo warned.
The polytechnic’s administration also turned the spotlight on staff, warning that any department or invigilator that allows students to enter examination halls with sign-out materials will face formal queries.
This clampdown is part of a broader effort by the institution to sanitize its academic space, preserve order, and send a strong message: Federal Polytechnic Nasarawa is an environment for learning — not a lawless playground.
With this firm stance, the school is not only tightening its internal policies but also setting a tone for what responsible celebration and campus life should look like in Nigerian tertiary institutions.