Senator Shehu Sani Seeks Sanctions on Schools Charging Excessive Graduation Fees
Senator Shehu Sani has urged authorities to sanction schools charging excessive graduation fees, describing the practice as exploitative. His call comes as several states continue efforts to ban costly graduation ceremonies in basic education schools.
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Former Kaduna Central Senator and 2027 APC senatorial candidate for Kaduna Central, Shehu Sani, has called on relevant authorities to sanction primary and secondary schools that impose excessive graduation fees on parents.
Sani made the appeal in a post shared on X on Monday, describing the growing trend as exploitative and financially burdensome to many families.
According to him, schools demanding hefty sums from parents for graduation ceremonies have turned what should be a simple celebration into an avenue for extortion.
“The practice of asking parents to pay hefty sums of money for their children graduation ceremonies in primary and secondary schools is indeed nothing but extortion and exploitation,” Sani stated.
He added that both public and private schools involved in the practice should face appropriate sanctions to discourage the trend.
The former lawmaker's remarks come amid increasing concerns over the rising cost of end-of-session and graduation activities in schools across the country, with many parents complaining about multiple charges imposed by school authorities.
In recent months, some state governments have taken steps to curb the practice. In August 2025, stakeholders in the education sector, including the National Parent Teacher Association of Nigeria (NAPTAN), commended the governments of Edo, Benue, Ondo, and Imo states for banning graduation parties for nursery and junior secondary school pupils.
The move was aimed at reducing the financial burden on parents and promoting stability within the education system.
Similarly, the Niger State Government recently reaffirmed its ban on graduation ceremonies in both public and private primary and secondary schools. The state government warned school proprietors, principals, administrators, parents, and guardians against violating the directive.
Education stakeholders have argued that excessive graduation levies place unnecessary pressure on parents, especially amid prevailing economic challenges, and have called for more child-focused and affordable end-of-session celebrations.
