FG Not Scrapping NECO, UTME

The Federal Government may not be considering scrapping the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB, examination, UTME; and the National Examinations Council, NECO, as recommended by the Mr. Steve Oransoye-led committee, which had generated mixed reactions. Thousands of NECO and JAMB workers who may lose their jobs if the recommendations by the Oransoye committee on the restructuring of the Federal Government agencies and parastatals are implemented have been in fear, but the new development will help them focus once again on their job. Senior Special Assistant, SSA, to President Goodluck Jonathan on Youth and Student Matters, Jude Imagwe has revealed that Federal Government was not considering scrapping UTME and NECO. Speaking at the Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti, during a workshop on teaching/learning method, the SSA said the bodies were set up by laws for specific purposes. Imagwe noted that the recommendations of the Oronsanye committee may not be unconnected with the fact that a lot of government agencies were performing similar roles and functions, saying “at the end of the day, we will keep our own. NECO will be strengthened.” The federal government may not be considering scrapping of NECO and JAMB’s UTME exams, but organised labour in JAMB, Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions, NASU, and Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria, ASCSN, have vowed to challenge the report in court should the Federal Government implement it. Mr. Samuel Azaba and Mr. Isaiah Adeigbe, branch Chairmen of NASU and ASCSN, respectively, and Mr. Stephen Ignatius, NASU Secretary and his counterpart from ASCSN, Mr. Adederin Adegoke, all agreed that instead of scrapping the institutions, government should establish more to accommodate the about 1.7 million students seeking admission in about 400 institutions in the country.