The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) on Wednesday rejected the National Examination Council’s (NECO) decision to impose a N50,000 fee for the reprinting of certificates.
The new policy was announced by NECO in a statement issued on September 30, 2024, by the Registrar, Dantani Wushishi, in Minna, Niger State. According to the statement, the N50,000 fee is subject to periodic review, with reprint requests only being approved within one year of the original certificate’s issuance.
Reacting to the policy, NANS Senate Clerk, Abdulyekinn Odunayo, condemned the decision, describing it as outrageous and an attempt to commercialize education.
Odunayo stated that the N50,000 fee places an unacceptable burden on students, particularly at a time when many are grappling with economic hardship. He emphasized that the difficult financial conditions faced by Nigerian students make the fee untenable.
He further criticized NECO, suggesting that the new policy raises doubts about the council’s commitment to supporting education in the country.
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.”
NANS criticized NECO’s fee structure and policies, accusing the council of lacking transparency and raising concerns about potential mismanagement of funds and inefficient service delivery.
The student body, reaffirming its commitment to advocating for affordable, accessible, and quality education, called for the immediate reversal of the N50,000 fee and a reduction to a more 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.
