By Peter Duru, Makurdi
The Campaign for Equal Rights and Opportunities for All Nigerians (CERON) has condemned the Federal Government’s approval of an increase in the registration fees for the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the National Examinations Council (NECO), describing the decision as insensitive to the prevailing economic hardship.
The group said millions of Nigerian families were already struggling with rising living costs and worsening poverty, warning that the increase in examination fees would place additional financial pressure on parents and could worsen the country’s out-of-school children crisis.
The Federal Ministry of Education had, in a memo signed by the Director of Senior Secondary Education, Adeniji Ibrahim, on behalf of the Minister, directed the Registrar of NECO to implement a new examination registration fee of N50,000, noting that the same fee had been approved for WAEC.
Reacting in a statement, CERON Secretary, Francis Odiir, described the decision as unacceptable and disconnected from the realities facing ordinary Nigerians.
“The approval of the increase in examination fees is a clear indication that those in charge of this country do not understand the magnitude of the pain and suffering Nigerians are going through,” Odiir said.
According to him, many parents are already struggling to provide basic necessities for their families, making the fee increase ill-timed.
“Parents are already battling to provide food for their families, not to mention quality education. At a time like this, increasing examination fees is simply not right. Rather than easing the burden on citizens, the government is adding to their hardship,” he said.
Odiir called on the Federal Government to immediately reverse the decision, saying the proposed increase had been widely rejected by parents and education stakeholders.
He warned that higher examination fees could force many students to drop out of school because of their inability to afford the cost.
“This policy will further worsen the out-of-school children crisis because many parents will struggle to pay the examination fees. As a result, many students may be forced to abandon their education,” he said.
The CERON secretary also urged government officials to consider the economic realities confronting Nigerians when formulating public policies.
“Our leaders must avoid policies that place additional burdens on ordinary citizens. It is unfair for a government to remain indifferent to the plight of people who are already facing difficult economic conditions,” he added.
