The National Examinations Council (NECO) has threatened to sanction any school charging above N9,850 approved by the government as registration fee for the 2020 Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE).
Acting Registrar of NECO, Dr Abubakar Gana, gave the warning on Wednesday in Abuja when the House of Representatives Committee on Basic Education and Services paid an oversight visit to the Council.
He said the Council has written to Commissioners of Education of the 36 states and Federal Capital Territory (FCT), informing them of the extortions going on in their schools against the directive of the Federal Government.
He disclosed that some schools were charging between N19,000 and N20,000 as registration fee for SSCE.
The NECO boss, however, noted that the council was on top of the situation, adding that the examination body would continue to play actively a role in ensuring that candidates are not defrauded while pursuing their education.
Chairman, House Committee on Basic Education and Services, Prof Julius Ihovbere, in his response said the committee had a lot of confidence in NECO and those managing the agency.
Ihovbere said from the feedback from his constituency, NECO was doing exceptionally well.
“We believe that the role you have played, the only way to better appreciate it is to imagine a Nigeria without NECO,” he said.
According to him, the limitations faced by NECO were not from the inability of the Council to deliver but because of the challenges confronting the exam body.
He expressed confidence that both the Senate and the House of Representatives will approve a review of NECO’s budget to enable it to execute its mandate.
Nigerian Tribune
