Ekiti State government debunks allegation of “padding” WAEC fees

Ekiti State Government has debunked the allegation of padding the West African Examination Council (WAEC) 2020 Senior School Certificate examination fee of SS3 students in public schools in the State.

Ekiti State Commissioner for Information and Values Orientation, Mr Muyiwa Olumilua, on Friday in Ado Ekiti, described the allegation as spurious, stressing that the originators were either ignorant of the incidental expenses relating to the conduct of the examination or simply failed to patiently carry out the required due diligence, before going public with their report.

Olumilua said the originators of the allegation did not take cognizance of the sundry expenses in the entire examination process, emphasizing that government made provision for all costs in respect of the WAEC examination, from registration to the release of results, including WAEC conferences in and out of the State, as well as administrative expenses for the conduct of NECO.

Giving a breakdown of the costs, Olumilua said that the Entry fee is N13,950 per candidate, adding that there is however administrative charges of N5,500 per school, for schools with less than 200 candidates.

It will be recalled that the International Centre for Investigative Reporting, ICIR, on Tuesday alleged that the Ekiti State government padded examination fee of the May/June of the West African Examination Council, WAEC, scheduled to hold later in the year by 25 per cent, with inflated cost of N3,500 on each students.

According to him, Government also paid for Reagent requirements for laboratory practical’s from the various schools, Albums with candidates’ passport photographs for the archives, logistics for the administration of the examination, which would include transportation for Principals and Registrars of schools, uniform identity cards for the students, and e-registration by cybercafés.

The Commissioner reiterated the commitment of the Fayemi-led administration to the provision of qualitative and compulsory education in the State.

Olumilua said that government would not be deterred or lose focus in the task of putting the state in its pride of place, among the comity of states, and indeed globally, adding that it was not the first time the administration would offset the examination fees of students in the State.

Olumilua stressed that the administration’s zero-tolerance for fraud is well-known, and would therefore not condone any fraudulent act in any sector

The Commissioner therefore urged the general public to discountenance the allegation, and continue to support the efforts of the Fayemi-led administration to move the State to greater heights.