The Kogi State Government has cautioned private and public schools across the state against engaging in direct registration of candidates for the National Examination Council (NECO) without clearance from the Ministry of Education.
The government warned that any school found guilty of bypassing official procedures would face severe consequences.
The State Commissioner for Education, Hon. Wemi Jones, gave the warning during an interactive session with school administrators in Lokoja, stressing that the government would not tolerate actions capable of undermining its reforms in the education sector.
Represented by the Acting Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Barikisu Omolayo, the Commissioner reaffirmed that education remains a top priority for the state as reflected in the 30% budgetary allocation to the sector by the present administration.
According to Mrs. Omolayo, the substantial investment by the government is aimed at ensuring every child in Kogi State enjoys access to quality, affordable, and inclusive education.
She emphasized that bypassing the Ministry in NECO or any other examination registration constitutes a serious violation and an attempt to sabotage the system.
Reinforcing the government’s position, the NECO Desk Officer in the Ministry, Mr. Paul Baba, revealed that some schools had gone ahead to register candidates for the 2025 NECO examinations without obtaining the mandatory clearance from the Ministry.
He lamented that such schools, in collaboration with certain NECO officials, were attempting to weaken the regulatory role of the Ministry.
Mr. Baba alleged that some individuals within the NECO State office were complicit in the process by clearing schools that had not met the state’s requirements in exchange for illicit payments.
He warned that the Ministry might be forced to write formally to the NECO headquarters to disqualify schools that continue to flout laid-down procedures.
In his reaction, Mr. Sunday Joseph, representing Demonstration College, Okene, commended the Ministry’s firm stance and pledged that his school would continue to comply with all government guidelines governing the registration of external examinations.
He also called on other school heads to work in harmony with the Ministry to protect the integrity of the state’s education system.
