The National Association of Nigerian Students has strongly opposed the National Examination Council’s decision to impose a ₦50,000 fee for the reprinting of certificates.
The rejection came in response to a new policy announced by NECO on September 30, 2024, in a statement released by the council’s Registrar, Dantani Wushishi, in Minna, Niger State.
The policy states that the ₦50,000 fee is subject to periodic review, and reprint requests will only be approved within one year of the original certificate issuance.
Reacting to the fee, NANS Senate Clerk Abdulyekinn Odunayo described the decision as “outrageous” and a “commercialisation of education,” emphasizing that the fee places an undue burden on students already facing economic challenges.
“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,” Odunayo said in a statement.
He further highlighted how the economic difficulties facing Nigerian students make the new policy particularly harmful.
“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.”
NANS also raised concerns over the transparency of NECO’s fee structure and policies, calling attention to potential mismanagement of funds and poor service delivery.
The student body reiterated its commitment to affordable and accessible education, demanding immediate action from NECO.
“We demand an immediate reversal of the ₦50,000 fee, a reduction of the fee to a more affordable amount (not exceeding the status quo), extension of the reprint request deadline to five years, and a stakeholder engagement to ensure student-centric decision-making,” the statement added.
NANS warned that it would not tolerate the exploitation of students through excessive fees and called for a more inclusive approach to educational policies.
