Borno State Governor, Babagana Umara Zulum, has authorized the immediate disbursement of N493 million to cover the 2024 National Examinations Council (NECO) fees for 25,075 students from public schools across the state.
The announcement, as yesterday was made by the Commissioner for Education, Science, Technology, and Innovation, Engineer Lawan Abba Wakilbe, during a presentation of the payment check to NECO officials at the Ministry’s Quality Assurance Office.
Zulum’s administration, according to him, is subsidizing 75% of the examination fees
Stressing that the move is aimed at improving access to education for all students, “this gesture by His Excellency, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum,” as made known by the commissioner, “demonstrates his unwavering commitment to providing equal opportunities for students in both public and private schools.”
He also acknowledged NECO’s continuous support and revealed plans for the completion of a permanent NECO office in Borno.
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“The Governor has directed the Ministry to finalize plans for completing the permanent NECO office at the Mustapha Umar Elkanemi College,” Wakilbe added.
Since the start of Zulum’s administration in 2019, the Borno State government, as noticed by The Trumpet, has spent N4 billion on examination fees.
He warned against the registration of students without proper records, stressing that continuous assessment, attendance, and biometric data from SS1 to SS3 must be verified.
The government also vowed to take strict action against principals involved in registering students illegally, which could lead to malpractices and corruption.
While praising school principals who maintain examination ethics, he issued a stern warning, saying any principal whose school center is derecognized for malpractice will be removed from their position immediately.
