A prominent member of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Ambassador Olufemi Ajadi Oguntoyinbo, has praised the Federal Government for retracting its decision on the 18-year minimum age requirement for students to sit for the West African School Certificate Examinations (WASCE) and National Examinations Council (NECO) exams. He noted that this move showcases President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration as one that listens to public concerns.
Ajadi also called for the reduction of current fuel prices to their previous rates.
It should be recalled that the Minister of Education, Professor Tahir Mamman, recently announced that beginning from the next academic session, students below 18 would be prohibited from sitting for WASCE and NECO. This policy drew widespread criticism, including from Ambassador Ajadi, who argued that it would unfairly affect many young students in senior secondary schools, forcing them to wait until they turn 18.
However, last Friday, the Federal Government reversed this decision. The Minister of State for Education, Dr. Tanko Sununu, clarified that there would be no age restrictions for students taking Senior Secondary Certificate Examinations (SSCE), including those organized by NECO and WAEC.
The government further explained that the age limit only applies to the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) and university admissions, effective from 2025.
In a statement on Sunday, Ajadi lauded the government for quickly responding to public opposition and reversing the policy, saying the administration deserved recognition for its attentiveness.
