Bauchi State Government has approved the sum of N185.5m for the payment of the Unified Tertiary and Matriculation Examination (UTME) and National Examination Council (NECO) registration fees for a total of 3,810 students who scored A and B grades in the recently concluded Senior Secondary Certificate of Education (SSCE) Aptitude Test in the state.
The was made known in a statement signed by the Commissioner of Education, Dr Aliyu Tilde, stating that the approvals were for the payment of National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB) examinations fees for all the 1,751 SSS3 students of all the government technical colleges along with all the 499 students sitting for National Board for Arabic and Islamic Studies (NBAIS) examinations from the government Arabic colleges.
Tilde stated that “as usual, NECO registration fees for 11,580 successful candidates who scored A, B and C in the Aptitude Test will also be paid for.”
He further stated that, “the total cost of these sponsorships is N185,580,550.00. As at today, the state government does not owe any of the three national examination bodies a dime. The Governor has approved the clearing of the new charges by August ending.”
He added that the payment of JAMB/UTME registration fees to aptitude test candidates is a new development in the state.
However, eligible students must hasten to obtain their National Identification Number (NIN) before the money will be paid to the bank from which the forms will be purchased.
According to him, arrangements are in place to see the immediate registration of students in their nearest local government headquarters assuring that, “the ministry, right now, cash-in-hand is ready to pay for any eligible student who has a NIN.”
“The list of A and B grade students who are eligible for the UTME sponsorship will be released to schools through their e-mails at the appropriate time. At the same time it will be published on the principals’ WhatsApp platform,” Tilde added.
The commissioner noted that, “The payment of UTME registration fees will not be a mandatory policy on the government. Rather, it will be enjoyed by meritorious students any year the government is pleased to do so within the confines of its revenue. In other words, it is a palliative or incentive that will be given whenever it is feasible.”
ALSO READ: https://rulersworld.com/13-year-old-primary-school-girl-gives-birth-during-exam/
