Breaking news: WAEC to withhold students’ results in 19 states over N4b debt

The West Africa Examinations Council, WAEC has

threatened to withhold the results of students in

19 states that sat for the May/June 2015

WASSCE over nonpayment of candidates’

registration fees by their state governments.

Speaking at its national office Yaba, some hours

ago, the Head of National Office, HNO, Mr Charles

Eguridu said: “The affected states should off-set

the registration fees of their candidates as soon

as possible, as we cannot guarantee that the

results of their candidates for the May/June 2015

WASSCE will be released alongside others.”

He said that a total number of 19 states in the

country owe the Council in respect of entry fees

for states government sponsored candidates for

the May/June 2015 WASSCE noting that some

States also still owe the Councils registration fees

for the May/June 2014 WASSCE. According to

him, the 19 states which are indebted to the tune

of N4 billion were not making efforts to pay

adding that efforts made by the Councils to get

the money from them proved abortive, hence

WAEC has resolved to make it public.

Eguridu who declined to mentioned names of the

indebted states said, he is given them benefit of

the debt, stressing that many of the governors

have just assumed office. He however urged the

indebted states to pay up within the next two

weeks. His words: “Many of the states of the

federation, as part of their education policy, pay

the registration fees of candidates for the

WASSCE, particularly in the public schools.

“This is quite commendable as it afforded many

indigent students the opportunity to sit our

examinations and relieved many poor parents of

this financial burden. “As I speak to you now, we

are cash-strapped as a result of the delay in off-

setting the registration fees owed the Council by

some states. As a result, we are finding it difficult

in meeting our financial obligations, particularly to

our supervisors, examiners and service providers.

“We have written to the affected states

governments without any response. The poor

response is threatening the smooth operations of

the Council.”