‘Parents can’t feed their families, yet you raised WAEC, NECO fees’ — Civil Society knocks Nigerian Govt

A Civil Society Organization, the Campaign for Equal Rights and Opportunities for All Nigerians, CERON, has condemned the approval of the Federal Government to raise the registration fee for the West African Examinations Council, WAEC, and the National Examinations Council, NECO, to N50,000.

A statement by the group’s Secretary, Francis Odiir, described the decision as insensitive to the economic hardship confronting millions of Nigerians.

This came after the Federal Ministry of Education’s directive approving the new registration fee for candidates sitting both examinations.

“The organisation argued that the increase would place an additional financial burden on parents already struggling with rising food prices, inflation and the high cost of living.

“Parents are already battling to provide food for their families, not to mention quality education. At a time like this, increasing examination fees is simply not right. Rather than easing the burden on citizens, the government is adding to their hardship,” Odiir said

CERON lamented that the policy reflects a lack of understanding of the harsh economic realities facing ordinary Nigerians.

“The approval of the increase in examination fees is a clear indication that those in charge of this country do not understand the magnitude of the pain and suffering Nigerians are going through,” he added.

The group urged l the Federal Government to immediately reverse the decision, noting that the proposed fee increase has already attracted widespread opposition from parents, education stakeholders and concerned Nigerians.

It also cautioned that the higher examination fees could worsen Nigeria’s out-of-school children crisis by forcing many students to abandon their education because their parents can no longer afford the cost.