NANS Opposes NECO’s N50,000 Certificate Reprint Fee

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has rejected NECO’s new N50,000 certificate reprint fee, calling it excessive, exploitative, and burdensome for students, especially in the current economic climate, while demanding an immediate reduction and extension of the reprint request period.

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has expressed strong disapproval of the National Examination Council’s (NECO) new policy requiring N50,000 for certificate reprints.

According to a report by ALLSCHOOL, NECO announced the fee on September 30, 2024, through its Registrar, Dantani Wushishi, in Minna, Niger State. The policy indicates that the fee will undergo periodic reviews and reprint requests must be made within one year of the original certificate being issued.

In response, NANS Senate Clerk Abdulyekinn Odunayo condemned the fee, calling it excessive and exploitative, especially given the current economic difficulties faced by students. He argued that the policy imposes an unnecessary financial strain and raises doubts about NECO’s commitment to supporting education.

NANS’ statement declared: “We strongly condemn NECO’s outrageous decision to charge N50,000 for certificate reprints.”

The student body expressed frustration, describing the policy as unfair, particularly in a time of economic hardship. It warned that the fee would limit students’ access to their certificates, worsen financial exclusion, and disproportionately impact those from less privileged backgrounds.

The statement also raised concerns over transparency, questioning NECO’s financial practices and the efficiency of its services.

NANS reaffirmed its dedication to affordable and accessible education, demanding that the fee be immediately reversed, reduced to a reasonable level, the reprint period extended to five years, and student involvement in the decision-making process.

“NANS will not stand by while education is commercialized and students are taken advantage of,” the statement concluded.

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SOURCES: ALLSCHOOL, PUNCH