A chieftain of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Ambassador Olufemi Ajadi Oguntoyinbo, has commended the Federal Government for reversing its decision on the 18-year minimum age requirement to sit for the West African School Certificate Examinations (WASCE) and the National Examinations Council (NECO) examinations, saying this decision reflects President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration as a listening one.
Ajadi also seeks a reversal of the current pump prices of petroleum products to their previous levels.
Recall that the Minister of Education, Professor Tahir Mamman, announced a few weeks ago that starting from the next academic session, students under 18 years would not be allowed to sit for WASCE and NECO examinations. This decision was condemned by many Nigerians, including Ambassador Ajadi, who urged the government not to implement such a policy, as it would negatively impact many youths already in senior secondary schools who might have to wait several years to reach the age of 18.
Last Friday, the Federal Government reversed its position, with the Minister of State for Education, Dr. Tanko Sununu, clarifying that there was no restriction on the age for students to sit for Senior Secondary Certificate Examinations (SSCE).
The government explained that the age restriction applied only to the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) and entry into universities, effective from 2025, and that this decision did not affect students taking examinations conducted by NECO and WAEC.
Ajadi, in a statement on Sunday, praised the Federal Government for its prompt response to Nigerians’ demands for a reversal of the policy, saying the government deserves commendation.
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According to him: “I commend the Federal Government for its decision to reverse itself on the non-participation of under-18 students in WASCE and NECO examinations. This decision portrays Tinubu’s administration as a listening one.
“The government is behaving as a democratic government should by listening to the voice of the people. This decision should be commended by Nigerians. When a government does well, it deserves commendation. That is the hallmark of genuine opposition. We should not only focus on the negative aspects of government.
“I therefore call on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his administration to also listen to the cry of Nigerians regarding the current high prices of petroleum products. The government should revert the current prices to the previous levels to enable Nigerians to survive.
“The current prices of petroleum products have put many Nigerians in a difficult situation. Both the rich and the poor are struggling. They are metaphorically on ‘life support machines’ due to the non-availability and high prices of petroleum products.
“The government should consider the plight of Nigerians and reduce the current prices to the previous levels.”
