The management of Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, Makurdi (JOSTUM) in Benue State has warned that any student caught participating in signing-out activities will face stiff disciplinary action.

 

In a statement released on Friday in Makurdi, the university’s Registrar and Secretary to Senate, Dr. John David, said the decision aligns with the Federal Government’s recent ban on signing-out practices across tertiary institutions. He noted that JOSTUM had already prohibited the tradition on February 15, 2025, ahead of the national directive.

 

Dr. David described signing-out—a popular final-year ritual where graduates scribble messages on their clothes and hold noisy celebrations—as a breach of the university’s culture and values. He explained that the practice often degenerates into rowdy gatherings, excessive partying and unsafe behaviour, thereby undermining the dignity of graduating students and the institution’s reputation.

 

“The primary concern of the university administration is to ensure that students graduate with dignity and decorum,” he said. “Unfortunately, signing-out practices tarnish the graduation experience with messy and unsafe displays. Going forward, all activities related to signing-out are banned on campus.”

 

He warned that defaulters risk suspension, rustication or the withholding of results and certificates, while staff and security personnel have been directed to enforce full compliance with the ban.