NANS Rejects NECO’s N50,000 Fee for Certificate Reprints

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) on Wednesday rejected the National Examination Council’s (NECO) N50,000 fee for reprinting certificates.

This new policy was announced in a statement by NECO Registrar Dantani Wushishi on September 30, 2024, in Minna, Niger State.

According to the statement, the N50,000 fee for certificate reprints is subject to periodic review and will only be approved for requests made within one year of the original certificate’s issuance.

In response to the fee, NANS Clerk of the Senate Abdulyekinn Odunayo called the decision outrageous and criticized it as a commercialization of education.

Odunayo explained that the N50,000 fee is an unacceptable burden on students, particularly as many are struggling to make ends meet.

He emphasized that economic hardship is significantly impacting Nigerian students and expressed doubt about NECO’s commitment to education due to the new policy.

The 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 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 affecting disadvantaged students and undermine the integrity of NECO, casting doubt on its commitment to education for all.”

NANS stated that NECO’s fee structure and policies lack transparency, raising concerns about potential mismanagement of funds and inefficient service delivery.

The student body reiterated its commitment to advocating for affordable, accessible, and quality education, demanding an immediate reversal and reduction of the fee to a more reasonable amount.

“The National Association of Nigerian Students will not stand idly while education is commercialised and students are exploited.

“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,” the statement added.