Government Officials Accused of Withdrawing N6bn from NECO Account
He emphasized that the N6 billion, collected as examination fees from candidates, has not been returned, and there is a glaring lack of transparency regarding its utilization. The former chairman expressed his concerns about the deliberate efforts to undermine NECO's existence, stating that certain officials do not want the examination body to thrive.
AKACHI NOEL 
In a startling revelation, Prof. Abubakar Mohammed, former Chairman of the National Examination Council (NECO), disclosed that government officials, particularly those from the Ministry of Education, withdrew a substantial sum of N6 billion in examination fees from NECO's accounts. This revelation was made during NECO's first award ceremony in Minna, Niger State, where educationists and policymakers were in attendance.
Mohammed did not mince words, asserting that these government officials are actively working to sabotage the indigenous examination body. He emphasized that the N6 billion, collected as examination fees from candidates, has not been returned, and there is a glaring lack of transparency regarding its utilization. The former chairman expressed his concerns about the deliberate efforts to undermine NECO's existence, stating that certain officials do not want the examination body to thrive.
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Furthermore, Mohammed highlighted a broader issue, revealing that the Federal Government has not provided any financial support or subvention to NECO for its day-to-day operations. This financial neglect raises questions about the sustainability of NECO's activities and its ability to fulfill its mandate effectively.
Adding to the grievances, Mohammed pointed out an agreement between NECO and the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) regarding the rotation of examination conduct. He alleged that government officials consistently show preference for WAEC, leading to a skewed examination schedule that favors the regional body over NECO.
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The NECO Registrar, Prof. Danlami Wushishi, used the platform to announce a positive development—the introduction of scholarships for candidates excelling in the gifted children examination. Despite these efforts to recognize academic achievements, the overarching narrative remains one of financial challenges and intentional neglect by government authorities.
As of now, there has been no official response from the government regarding these serious allegations. The lack of transparency and financial support raises concerns about the future of NECO and the quality of education evaluation in the country.
