The Niger State House of Assembly has called on the Executive Governor of Niger State to issue an executive order to ban the celebration of “Marker Day”/”Sign out” in all secondary and tertiary institutions (public and private) in Niger State. This was sequel to a motion raised by the member representing Tafa constituency, Hon. Muhammad Sani Idris, at the plenary on Tuesday.
The lawmaker explained that sometimes these students, under the guise of celebrations, engage in immoral activities, while miscreants also take advantage of the situation and cause mayhem within the neighborhood where such celebrations take place.
According to Hon. Idris, these activities, if left unchecked, can undermine the state’s educational system’s aim of promoting a holistic development of students’ intellect so that they can become capable individuals who will achieve their full potential and, in the future, contribute to society.
He further explained that the ongoing trend of “signing out” from schools is presumably originally intended to be a celebratory ceremony by final-year students who mark the end of their examinations with parties, celebrations, and writing of farewell messages on each other’s uniforms or white T-shirts.
The lawmaker said that these “signing out” events, held within or outside the premises of the school compound, have recently been marred by unruly behavior with rising incidents of misconduct, especially because many aggrieved students use the opportunity to address unresolved issues or conflicts amongst themselves, thus creating a tense and uncomfortable atmosphere that sometimes escalates into full-blown fights.
Hon. Idris disclosed that students begin preparing for their “signing out” from the beginning of their last academic year, saying more emphasis and focus are placed on it thereby overshadowing the students’ strive for excellence, achievement, and progress, making them wander from academic focus as concentration becomes centered on the “signing out.”
Supporting the motion, the Member representing Bida South Constituency, Hon. Muhammad Haruna, described the move as a timely response to the rising challenge. “Students have turned it into a day of bazaar, gangsterism, and immoral acts with the society watching them go haywire,” he said.
The member representing Suleja Constituency, Hon. Murtala Badaru, equally described the motion as a timely decision given the increasing outcry of the public over the issue. Ruling on the issue, the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Afiniki Dauda who presided over the plenary assured the House that she will follow up with the Niger State Governor as well as the Niger State Ministry of Education to ensure immediate enforcement.
