The House of Representatives made a critical decision regarding a motion proposing that members should adopt local public schools and cover registration fees for students taking major exams.
The motion was initiated by Anamero Dekeri, the representative for Etsako Federal Constituency, Edo State, who suggested that JAMB, WAEC, and NECO examination bodies provide free registration for the 2023–2024 exams.
Dekeri’s motion aimed to address the financial challenges faced by low-income parents in funding their children’s education, especially when it came to paying for examination fees.
He urged his fellow lawmakers to influence the Ministry of Education to declare the 2023 and 2024 WAEC, NECO, and JAMB registrations as free, allowing the common man to benefit from fuel subsidy removal palliatives.
Additionally, he called for a comprehensive framework from the Minister of Finance, Budget, Economic and Financial Planning to ensure that the less privileged masses felt a sense of belonging in Nigeria.
House Leader Julius Ihonvbere supported the motion by suggesting that members take responsibility for sponsoring examination fees in at least one public secondary school, particularly one they attended. He viewed this as a form of corporate social responsibility.
However, Hassan Doguwa, the representative for Doguwa/Tudun Wada Federal Constituency, Kano State, cautioned against mandating lawmakers to pay examination fees, although he recognized the motion’s merit.
Another concern arose when Awaji-Inombek Abiante, the representative for Andoni/Opobo Nkoro in Rivers State, questioned the use of the word “compel” in the motion’s title.
He pointed out that the House lacked the constitutional authority to compel examination bodies to provide free registration, and he raised the issue of fairness among public schools in the same constituency.
Ultimately, when the motion went to a vote, the majority of lawmakers present in Wednesday’s plenary chose to set it aside. The Speaker, Abbas Tajudeen, sealed the decision with a gavel strike, and the motion did not proceed.