By Lanre Idris Mustapha
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) on Wednesday protested against the National Examination Council’s (NECO) new policy, imposing a N50,000 fee for the reprinting of certificates.
This protest came after the council’s registrar, Dantani Wushishi, announced the development on 30th of September.
According to NECO, the N50,000 fee is subject to continuous review, and requests for certificate reprints would only be accepted within one year of the original issuance date.
Reacting to the new fee, NANS Senate Clerk Abdulyekin Odunayo said the policy is outrageous, describing as an attempt to commercialize education.
He nuted that the fee places an unacceptable financial burden on students, especially during a hard time like this.
Odunayo further criticized the policy, stating: “The economic challenges facing Nigerian students are severe, and this new policy from NECO raises serious concerns about its commitment to education.”
A statement from NANS 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 struggling with financial hardship and uncertainty.”
NANS warned that the fee would worsen financial exclusion, particularly affecting disadvantaged students, and undermine NECO’s credibility. “This policy disproportionately harms those in need, raising concerns about transparency in NECO’s fee structure and possible mismanagement of funds,” NANS added.
The student union expressed its commitment to advocating cheap and quality education, demanding an immediate reversal of the fee to a more affordable level.
They also called for an extension of the certificate reprint deadline to five years and urged NECO to engage with stakeholders to develop student-focused policies.
“The National Association of Nigerian Students will not stand idly by while education is commercialized and students are exploited. We demand the immediate reversal of this fee and a reduction to a more affordable amount (not exceeding status quo),” the statement concluded.
