The National Association of Nigerian Students(NANS) on Thursday, 03 October, 2024 rejected the National Examination Council’s(NECO) N50,000 fee for reprinting of certificates.
The examination body in a statement on September 30, 2024 by NECO's Registrar Dantani Wushishi in Minna, Niger State, announced the new policy.
According to the statement by NECO the N50,000 fee charged for reprinting certificates is subject to periodic review and may be adjusted accordingly.
Additionally, reprint requests will only be processed and approved within a one-year timeframe from the date of issuance of the original certificate.
In response to the new fee, NANS clerk of the Senate, Abdulyekinn Odunayo, in a statement described the decision as outrageous and a commercialisation of education.
Odunayo bemoaned that the fee is an unacceptable burden on students, coming at a time when many are struggling to survive amidst economic hardship.
He buttressed that economic situation in the country is taking a toll on Nigerian students, adding that the new policy by NECO gives room to doubt its commitment to education.
The statement reads: “The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) unequivocally condemns the outrageous decision by the National Examination Council (NECO) to impose a N50,000 fee for certificate reprints.
“This draconian policy is a slap in the face of Nigerian students, already beset by financial hardships and uncertainty.
“The N50,000 fee is an unacceptable burden on students, many of whom struggle to make ends meet.
This fee will exacerbate financial exclusion, denying countless students access to their rightful certificates, perpetuate inequality, disproportionately affecting disadvantaged students and undermine the integrity of NECO, casting doubt on its commitment to education for all.”
Furthermore, the students body said NECO’s fee structure and policies lacked transparency, and sparked concerns about mismanagement of funds and inefficient service delivery.
While emphasising its advocacy for affordable, accessible, and quality education, NANS demanded an immediate reversal and reduction of the fee to an affordable amount.
“The National Association of Nigerian Students will not stand idly while education is commercialised and students are exploited.
“We demand an immediate reversal of the N50,000 fee, a reduction of the fee to a more affordable amount (not exceeding status quo), extension of the reprint request deadline to 5 years and a stakeholder engagement to ensure student-centric decision-making,” the statement added.
