Afimag.com –
The motion seeking to compel examination bodies such as Joint Admission Matriculation Board, JAMB, West Africa Examination Council, WAEC, and National Examination Council, NECO, to register students free of charge for the 2023-2024 examination has been declined by House of Representatives.
This followed the adoption of a motion by a member from Edo State, Anamero Dekeri, at plenary.
The Lawmaker stated that one of the major challenges of the low-income earning parents, caused by oil subsidy removal, was the education of their wards particularly in payment of examination fees.
“Since the government is making plans for permanent and commensurate benefits for the poor masses who had suffered the effect of fuel subsidy removal, the Ministry of Education should declare 2023 and 2024 WAEC, NECO, and JAMB examinations registration free of charge”, Dekeri stated.
This according to him, will serve as palliative to poor Nigerians.
Dekeri also urged the Minister of Finance, Budget, Economic and National Planning to come up with a robust framework that would give the poor people a sense of belonging in Nigeria.
Contributing to the debate, the leader of the House, Professor Julius Ihonvbere, urged the lawmakers to adopt a school in their constituencies to pay the school fees of their constituents.
Another member, Mr Awaji Abiante reminded the House that it may not have the due jurisdiction to fully enforce the prayers of the motion since WAEC is a West African body and not a Nigerian one.
The Speaker Dr Tajudeen Abbas, put it to vote, after which the motion was stepped down with the agreement of the House.
