by The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has rejected the National Examination Council’s (NECO) new policy requiring a N50,000 fee for reprinting certificates.
The policy, announced by NECO on September 30, 2024, in Minna, Niger State, allows for reprint requests within one year of the original certificate issuance, and the fee is subject to periodic review.
In a statement on Wednesday, NANS Senate Clerk, Abdulyekinn Odunayo, described the decision as unfair and a move that commercializes education. He said the fee would place an additional burden on students already struggling financially.
“The N50,000 fee is an unacceptable burden, especially given the current economic hardship faced by many students,” Odunayo said. He further emphasized that the policy undermines NECO’s commitment to providing education for all.
NANS also criticized NECO’s lack of transparency regarding its fee structure, which it said could lead to doubts about the council’s management of funds and service delivery.
The student body called for an immediate reversal of the fee and suggested reducing it to a more reasonable amount. They also proposed extending the reprint request period to five years and urged NECO to engage with stakeholders to ensure student-friendly decisions.
“We will not allow education to be commercialized and students to be exploited. NECO must review this fee to make it affordable,” NANS stated.
