The Benue State Government has officially banned graduation parties for kindergarten, nursery, and primary schools across the state. Acting Commissioner of the Ministry of Education and Knowledge Management, Mrs. Helen Nambativ, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Makurdi that schools failing to comply with the policy would face sanctions, including possible temporary closure.

Mrs. Nambativ, who also serves as the ministry’s permanent secretary, said the government is putting mechanisms in place to enforce the new policy, which takes immediate effect. She explained that the policy is people-oriented and aims to improve and “sanitize” the education sector at the basic levels.

Schools that do not implement the policy during the 2025/2026 academic session may be denied the right to operate. A government task force will also be established to ensure enforcement.

The government had issued a memo on August 21 announcing the ban. According to the memo, the measure is intended to ease the financial burden on parents and refocus attention on children’s academic development. The memo also stated:

• The use of restricted, customized education materials that cannot be passed to subsequent students is abolished. Schools must return to the traditional practice of passing books from senior to junior students.
• Compulsory and extended lessons after school hours are no longer allowed, except where parents explicitly request them.
• All compulsory school graduation ceremonies in Benue State, especially for kindergarten, nursery, and primary schools, are abolished.

While many have welcomed the policy, some school proprietors in Makurdi, speaking anonymously to NAN, argued that the timing of the announcement was inappropriate. They suggested that the government should have consulted stakeholders in the education sector before implementing the ban, noting that many schools had already purchased the now-prohibited books and should be granted a one-year grace period.

Parents, however, have largely praised the move. Mr. James Bemgba told NAN that the ban would relieve parents of the high costs associated with graduation ceremonies for very young children and unnecessary school materials.

The policy marks a significant step by the Benue Government to prioritize academic development while reducing financial pressures on families.