– By JOSEPH EDUN, ABH PRESS
The Federal Government on Wednesday has announced a reduction in the cost of the registration and examination fees of the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and National Examination Council (NECO).
JAMB examination fee was reduced from N5,000 to N3,500, while Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (SSCE) fee which is handled by NECO was reduced from N11,350 to N9,850 and Basic Education Certificate which is also handled by NECO from N5,500 to N4,000.
The reduction was disclosed by the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu while briefing State House correspondents at the end of Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Wednesday.
The reduction will come into effect in January 2019. The minister said the reduction was approved by the FEC after the memo on it was presented to the council by the Education minister.
He said the reduction followed the plea made by parents.
Adamu said, “Since the new administration came into office and a change in management and prudent management by JAMB, we have been able to see that most of what has been charged doesn’t have to be because a lot of it has been syphoned by corrupt officials.
“So, in answer to yearnings by parents, Mr President directed that we should look into the possibility of reducing the charges.
“So accordingly, from January 2019, JAMB fees will be from N5,000 to N3,500 for the UTME, Senior Secondary Certificate charged by National Examination Council (NECO) from N11,350 to N9,850 and Basic Education Certificate handled by NECO is reduced from N5,500 to N4,000.”