The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has strongly rejected the decision by the National Examination Council (NECO) to impose a N50,000 fee for certificate reprints. The policy, announced by NECO’s Registrar Dantani Wushishi on September 30, 2024, is expected to apply to reprints requested within one year of the original certificate’s issuance. According to NECO, this fee is subject to periodic reviews.
NANS, however, finds the fee unreasonable. In a statement, Abdulyekinn Odunayo, the Senate Clerk of NANS, called the fee an unfair burden on students, especially given the current economic hardships faced by many Nigerian students. He described the fee as a commercialization of education, emphasizing that it could further disadvantage already struggling students.
Odunayo stated that the N50,000 fee will make it even harder for students to access their certificates, leading to further inequality in the education system. NANS believes the fee not only places an unnecessary financial burden on students but also raises doubts about NECO’s dedication to affordable education for all.
In its statement, NANS condemned the policy, calling it a “slap in the face” to students, especially those already facing financial challenges. They argued that NECO’s decision undermines the goal of making education accessible to everyone, particularly students from less privileged backgrounds.
The student body also expressed concerns about the lack of transparency in NECO’s fee structure and the potential for mismanagement. They urged NECO to reduce the fee to a more affordable amount and extend the reprint request period to five years, instead of the current one-year limit.
NANS has vowed not to remain silent while education is being commercialized and students are exploited. They are demanding that NECO immediately reverse the N50,000 fee and lower it to a more reasonable amount. NANS also called for greater student involvement in decision-making to ensure that policies remain focused on the interests of students.
