Opinion
Any Use For NECO, JAMB?
The recent proposal by the Federal Government to scrap the National Examination Council (NECO) and Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examinations (UTME) conducted by the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has expectedly generated a lot of arguments.
Those in support of the decision have argued that NECO and UTME are absolutely unnecessary. They opined that the scrapping of NECO will make the country return to the era when the West African Examination Council (WAEC) was the only standard examination body in the country.
They also argued that the creation of NECO through the promulgation of a decree in April 1999 had generated controversy in the country as many groups and organisations opposed its creation because it performs the same functions with WAEC.
Some people also argued that NECO examinations have been bastardised as results are often times awarded to candidates who did not sit for examinations adding that the results cannot be tendered abroad.
On the other hand, some people, especially educationists and students have argued that the scrapping of NECO and UMTE will further worsen the problems we have in the education sector in Nigeria as WAEC alone cannot cater for the numerous candidates that apply to write the exams every year in the country. Scrapping of UTME and empowering individual universities in the country to conduct their own admission examination and admit students, they said, is a tactical way of ensuring that only children of well-to-do parents attend universities as university admissions will be for the highest bidders.
A former Minister for Education, Mrs Chinwe Obaji in a newspaper interview recently described Federal Government’s proposal to phase out the two examination bodies as an invitation to chaos in the education sector. She noted that a country as big as Nigeria could not do without examinations like NECO and UTME, adding that the government should realise that WAEC is not owned by Nigeria only but by countries in West Africa and therefore, could not be serving Nigeria’s individual purpose. She maintained that Nigeria was too large to be restricted to WAEC examinations only and that the decision to phase out UTME and allow individual universities to conduct our entrance examination would spell doom for the nation’s educations.
Both sides indeed have solid points to back their arguments. But as the arguments rages on, it will be necessary for some important questions to be asked. Are these two examinations still relevant? Has their existence improved the standard of education in Nigeria? Where really are the Nigerian students in all these? Will doing away with NECO and UTME revamp the declining fortunes of the education sector?
Year after year, we hear of abysmal performance of Nigerian students in external examinations, a situation that has been attributed to mass promotion of students whether they pass or not, poor infrastructure, poor funding, corruption and many others.
So, it is necessary that instead of focusing on superficialities, government should pay attention to the curriculum.
We cannot expect the students to perform better in these examinations – WAEC, NECO, UTME or what have you if we do not deal with the root cause of strain in the education system.
We also should remember that the image and output of NECO and JAMB got battered not necessarily because of problems coming from JAMB and NECO only, but because of other societal issues.
We live in a society where non-university graduates are regarded as second class citizens, a society that believes so much in paper qualification not minding whether the holder of such qualification can defend it or not.
Nigeria is a country where little or nothing is done to promote functional, skill-based education which adds value to the nation. Nigeria parents are ready to engage in any fraudulent act to ensure that their children gain admission into the university. And school owners, particularly private school owners, go to any length to rig examinations to prove that their schools are the best academically, thereby attracting more patronage.
So, we need to have a very serious re-orientation programme in Nigeria for people to be able to understand that it is not all about certificate. People need to know that they can be what they want to be without being to the four walls of university. That will reduce the crave for university education and also enable universities that their capacities can carry.
So, with the proposed scrapping of UMTE and authorisation of individual univesities to conduct their own admission, examinations and admit students, JAMB should live up to its responsibility of setting and ensuring complaince to standands as it now acts as the clraning house.
Whether argument about whether NECO and UMTE should be scrapped or not, should be looked at from different angles taking into consideration all the points made by educationists, students and other stakeholders. And as we do that, let’s not forget that we can only expect more positive results from the candidates who write these exams when we have tackled the fundamental problems with our education sector.
Calista Ezeaku
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Restoring Order, Delivering Good Governance
The political atmosphere in Rivers State has been anything but calm in 2025. Yet, a rare moment of unity was witnessed on Saturday, June 28, when Governor Siminalayi Fubara and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike, appeared side by side at the funeral of Elder Temple Omezurike Onuoha, Wike’s late uncle. What could have passed for a routine condolence visit evolved into a significant political statement—a symbolic show of reconciliation in a state bruised by deep political strife.
The funeral, attended by dignitaries from across the nation, was more than a moment of shared grief. It became the public reflection of a private peace accord reached earlier at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. There, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu brought together Governor Fubara, Minister Wike, the suspended Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, and other lawmakers to chart a new path forward.
For Rivers people, that truce is a beacon of hope. But they are not content with photo opportunities and promises. What they demand now is the immediate lifting of the state of emergency declared in March 2025, and the unconditional reinstatement of Governor Fubara, Deputy Governor Dr. Ngozi Odu, and all suspended lawmakers. They insist on the restoration of their democratic mandate.
President Tinubu’s decision to suspend the entire structure of Rivers State’s elected leadership and appoint a sole administrator was a drastic response to a deepening political crisis. While it may have prevented a complete breakdown in governance, it also robbed the people of their voice. That silence must now end.
The administrator, retired naval chief Ibok-Ette Ibas, has managed a caretaker role. But Rivers State cannot thrive under unelected stewardship. Democracy must return—not partially, not symbolically, but fully. President Tinubu has to ensure that the people’s will, expressed through the ballot, is restored in word and deed.
Governor Fubara, who will complete his six-month suspension by September, was elected to serve the people of Rivers, not to be sidelined by political intrigues. His return should not be ceremonial. It should come with the full powers and authority vested in him by the constitution and the mandate of Rivers citizens.
The people’s frustration is understandable. At the heart of the political crisis was a power tussle between loyalists of Fubara and those of Wike. Institutions, particularly the State House of Assembly, became battlegrounds. Attempts were made to impeach Fubara. The situation deteriorated into a full-blown crisis, and governance was nearly brought to its knees.
But the tide must now turn. With the Senate’s approval of a record ?1.485 trillion budget for Rivers State for 2025, a new opportunity has emerged. This budget is not just a fiscal document—it is a blueprint for transformation, allocating ?1.077 trillion for capital projects alone. Yet, without the governor’s reinstatement, its execution remains in doubt.
It is Governor Fubara, and only him, who possesses the people’s mandate to execute this ambitious budget. It is time for him to return to duty with vigor, responsibility, and a renewed sense of urgency. The people expect delivery—on roads, hospitals, schools, and job creation.
Rivers civil servants, recovering from neglect and under appreciation, should also continue to be a top priority. Fubara should continue to ensure timely payment of salaries, address pension issues, and create a more effective, motivated public workforce. This is how governance becomes real in people’s lives.
The “Rivers First” mantra with which Fubara campaigned is now being tested. That slogan should become policy. It must inform every appointment, every contract, every budget decision, and every reform. It must reflect the needs and aspirations of the ordinary Rivers person—not political patrons or vested interests.
Beyond infrastructure and administration, political healing is essential. Governor Fubara and Minister Wike must go beyond temporary peace. They should actively unite their camps and followers to form one strong political family. The future of Rivers cannot be built on division.
Political appointments, both at the Federal and State levels, must reflect a spirit of fairness, tolerance, and inclusivity. The days of political vendettas and exclusive lists must end. Every ethnic group, every gender, and every generation must feel included in the new Rivers project.
Rivers is too diverse to be governed by one faction. Lasting peace can only be built on concessions, maturity, and equity. The people are watching to see if the peace deal will lead to deeper understanding or simply paper over cracks in an already fragile political arrangement.
Wike, now a national figure as Minister of the FCT, has a responsibility to rise above the local fray and support the development of Rivers State. His influence should bring federal attention and investment to the state, not political interference or division.
Likewise, Fubara should lead with restraint, humility, and a focus on service delivery. His return should not be marked by revenge or political purges but by inclusive leadership that welcomes even former adversaries into the process of rebuilding the state.
“The people are no longer interested in power struggles. They want light in their streets, drugs in their hospitals, teachers in their classrooms, and jobs for their children. The politics of ego and entitlement have to give way to governance with purpose.
The appearance of both leaders at the funeral was a glimpse of what unity could look like. That moment should now evolve into a movement-one that prioritizes Rivers State over every personal ambition. Let it be the beginning of true reconciliation and progress.
As September draws near, the Federal government should act decisively to end the state of emergency and reinstate all suspended officials. Rivers State must return to constitutional order and normal democratic processes. This is the minimum requirement of good governance.
The crisis in Rivers has dragged on for too long. The truce is a step forward, but much more is needed. Reinstating Governor Fubara, implementing the ?1.485 trillion budget, and uniting political factions are now the urgent tasks ahead. Rivers people have suffered enough. It is time to restore leadership, rebuild trust, and finally put Rivers first.
By: Amieyeofori Ibim
Amieyeofori Ibim is former Editor of The Tide Newspapers, political analyst and public affairs commentator
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