The National Examinations Council (NECO) has demanded that the five state governments that still owe the organisation a combined total of more than N2 billion pay up what they owe as quickly as possible.
Prof Dantani Ibrahim Wushishi, the Registrar/Chief Executive of NECO, made the appeal on Friday in Lagos, shortly after visiting some schools, including Ilupeju Senior Grammar School in Oshodi and Agbayewa Memorial College in Ilupeju, to monitor the council’s ongoing school-based Senior Secondary School Examination (SSCE). At the time, the students were writing Agricultural Science (Theory).
According to the registrar, the number of indebted state governments was once numerous but has now been limited to only five states.
He stated that the debts stretch from 2012 to the present and that it would be a huge relief to NECO if the indebted state governments, the names of which he did not reveal, responded positively by paying up in full.
He stated that the money, if paid, would undoubtedly assist the organisation in meeting some of its financial responsibilities, thus the plea.
Speaking about the present SSCE, he said it had gone off without a hitch so far, even in problematic states where the level of insecurity is high.
He stated that conducting examinations such as NECO’s SSCE, particularly in areas with major security issues such as the northern and eastern regions of the country, comes with obstacles, but that the council has been able to overcome them as they arise.
He did, however, applaud the security forces and exam officials, as well as other stakeholders, for their “cooperation and dedication” to ensuring a smooth examination, and he thanked God for crowning the efforts.
He stated that he and his staff personally travelled around Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, and certain states to observe the exams, including Kogi, Ondo, Ekiti, Oyo, Ondo, Ogun, and now Lagos, and he was impressed with the level of compliance in those states.
He stated that he has been receiving regular updates on the exam’s nationwide administration since its start.