The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has condemned the National Examination Council’s (NECO) N50,000 fee for reprinting certificates, describing it as unacceptable, News About Nigeria reports.
NANS clerk of the Senate, Abdulyekinn Odunayo, made this known in a statement on Wednesday.
Recall that the new policy was announced in a statement by NECO on September 30, 2024, by the Registrar of NECO in Minna, Niger State, Dantani Wushishi.
According to the statement, the N50,000 fee for certificate reprint is subjected to periodic review and reprint requests and will only be approved within one year of the original certificate issuance.
Reacting to this, the association stated that it is a commercialisation of education, adding that it is outrageous and a burden on both the students and their parents.
He maintained that economic hardship is taking a toll on Nigerian students, and stressed that the new policy by NECO gives room to doubt its commitment to education.
NANS, therefore, demanded that an immediate reversal and reduction of the fee be carried out to an affordable amount.
The statement 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 beset by financial hardships and uncertainty.
“The N50,000 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 affect disadvantaged students, and undermine the integrity of NECO, casting doubt on its commitment to education for all.
“We demand an immediate reversal of the N50,000 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.”
