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The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has voiced its strong opposition to the ₦50,000 fee introduced by the National Examination Council (NECO) for reprinting certificates.
THE TRUTH reports that this decision was announced in a statement by NECO’s Registrar, Dantani Wushishi, in Minna, Niger State.
NECO stated that the ₦50,000 fee for certificate reproduction would be reviewed periodically and that reprint requests would only be granted within one year of the certificate’s initial issuance.
In response, the NANS Clerk of the Senate, Comrade Abdulyekinn Odunayo, condemned the move, calling it an excessive and unfair commercialization of education.
In a statement released on Wednesday, Odunayo emphasized that the fee would place an undue financial burden on students, especially in light of the ongoing economic challenges many face.
Odunayo’s statement reads: “The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) unequivocally condemns the outrageous decision by the National Examination Council (NECO) to impose a ₦50,000 fee for certificate reprints.
“This draconian policy is a slap in the face of Nigerian students, already beset by financial hardships and uncertainty.
“The ₦50,000 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.”
Furthermore, NANS expressed concerns about NECO’s fee structures and transparency, suggesting potential issues of fund mismanagement and poor service delivery.
They urged NECO to reconsider its policies, advocating for an affordable and student-friendly approach to education costs.
NANS has demanded an immediate reversal of the ₦50,000 fee, proposing that the charge be significantly reduced, the certificate reprint window be extended to five years, and a more inclusive dialogue be initiated to ensure that student interests are prioritized in decision-making.
Odunayo concluded by stating, “The National Association of Nigerian Students will not stand idly while education is commercialized and students are exploited.
“We demand an immediate reversal of the ₦50,000 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.”
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