Jalingo, Nigeria — The Taraba State Government has revealed that it spent approximately N4 billion to cover the 2025 NECO, WAEC, BECE, and NABTEB examination fees for students in public schools, as part of its ongoing free and compulsory education policy.
This was disclosed by the State Commissioner for Education, Dr. Augustina Yahaya, on Thursday during an interview with LEADERSHIP, where she outlined Governor Agbu Kefas’s commitment to expanding educational access since taking office in 2023.
Dr. Yahaya explained that the state’s large financial investment in external examinations delayed the supply of desks and learning materials across public schools. She was responding to recent reports of students sitting on the floor to take exams due to lack of furniture.
“With the free education policy, thousands of children have returned to public schools. This sudden increase led to shortages in desks and materials. Last year, the governor approved over 12,000 desks, and we’ve received another approval for 12,000 more in 2025,” she stated.
Dr. Yahaya added that the government had to prioritize funding for final year examinations before attending to infrastructural needs. “Now that we have completed payment for all external exams, we will focus on supplying adequate seating materials in the coming weeks,” she assured.
She also addressed confusion around the Primary School Leaving Certificate, clarifying that the National Council on Education abolished the certificate in 2023. She urged parents to stop demanding it, as it is no longer recognized nationally.
By Makinde oyinkansola| July 24, 2025
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