Federal Government removes ‘controversial’ age limit for WAEC and NECO

The age limit for candidates wishing to sit for the West African Examination Council (WAEC) and National Examination Council (NECO) examinations has been removed, the Minister of State for Education, Dr Tanko Sununu has said.

“Contrary to recent reports, there has been no age restriction imposed on WAEC and NECO exams. The only age limit being implemented is for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) and university entry, starting from 2025,” he said at a press briefing.

Speaking at the press briefing the State Education Minister said the Federal Government’s 18-year minimum age requirement for prospective candidates to sit WASSCE and NECO has been misinterpreted.

He explained that the age restriction applied only to the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) and entry into universities, effective from 2025 and that this decision did not affect students taking examinations conducted by NECO and WAEC.

Following the removal of the WASSCE and NECO age limit, chieftain of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Ambassador Olufemi Ajadi Oguntoyinbo has commended The Federal Government’s for its decision.

“I commend the Federal Government for its decision to reverse itself on the non-participation of under-18 students in WASCE and NECO examinations. This decision portrays Tinubu’s administration as a listening one.

The government is behaving as a democratic government should by listening to the voice of the people. This decision should be commended by Nigerians.

When a government does well, it deserves commendation. That is the hallmark of genuine opposition. We should not only focus on the negative aspects of government.

I therefore call on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his administration to also listen to the cry of Nigerians regarding the current high prices of petroleum products. The government should revert the current prices to the previous levels to enable Nigerians to survive.

The current prices of petroleum products have put many Nigerians in a difficult situation. Both the rich and the poor are struggling. They are metaphorically on ‘life support machines’ due to the non-availability and high prices of petroleum products

The government should consider the plight of Nigerians and reduce the current prices to the previous levels,” Ambassador Olufemi Ajadi Oguntoyinbo said.