The Ebonyi State Government has intensified the enforcement of its ban on graduation, valedictory and prize-giving ceremonies in public and private schools by deploying more than 106 surveillance and security personnel across the state’s 13 local government areas.
Gatekeepers News reports that speaking during a briefing for the monitoring team in Abakaliki, the Commissioner for Primary and Secondary Education, Donatus Ilang, directed the officers to enforce the government’s directive without compromise.
He warned that any school found violating the policy would face strict sanctions.
“A kite flying without pitching will be shot without missing,” Ilang said. “A child that denies the mother sleep will not sleep either.”
The commissioner disclosed that the ministry is investigating more than 158 schools accused of violating the directive.
He added that principals, headteachers and proprietors who fail to refund graduation levies allegedly collected from parents in defiance of the ban would face disciplinary action.
Ilang urged the monitoring personnel to carry out their responsibilities diligently, assuring them that the government would provide the necessary logistical support for the operation.
He also called for teamwork among members of the surveillance team and directed them to use the ministry’s dedicated hotlines to submit real-time reports during the exercise.
The commissioner stressed that only ministry-appointed officials and designated security personnel authorised for the operation are permitted to enforce the policy.
He further cautioned school administrators against attempting to circumvent the ban by holding graduation ceremonies on church premises, warning that any institution found engaging in such practices would be summoned and sanctioned in line with government regulations.
