WAEC exam fees: Kogi assembly gives ministry Dec. 30 ultimatum

The Kogi State House of Assembly has given the state Ministry of Education till December 30 to pay N497.3 million in examination fees to the West African Examination Council (WAEC).

The house questioned why the examination body’s costs, which had already been released by Gov. Yahaya Bello, had not been paid.

During Thursday’s plenary session, the Speaker of the house, Umar Yusuf, issued the ultimatum to the state Commissioner for Education, Science, and Technology, Mr Wemi Jones.

Jones had said some school principals were collecting WAEC fees and other charges despite the fact that the funds had been released by the government.

Gov. Bello released N497.3 million in November for the payment of fees for 15,033 students across the state’s 21 local government areas, but the payment has yet to be made.

Jones, who appeared before the house, stated that the monies had been released but that the payment procedure was still underway.

“I hereby wish to inform this honorable house that the fund released by our caring governor is not missing but intact in the coffers of the ministry’s account.

“I assure you that very soon it will reach WAEC before the closing date of January 28, 2024, and not to any principal or school, ” he explained.