Zulum Clears ₦622.3m NECO Fees for 27,599 Borno Students

By: Monday Danladi, Bauchi

The Borno State Government has presented a cheque of ₦622,308,300 to the National Examinations Council (NECO) office in Maiduguri, covering 2026 Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (SSCE) fees for 27,599 final-year students in public schools across the state.

Commissioner for Education, Science, Technology and Innovation, Engr. Lawan Abba Wakilbe, made the presentation on behalf of Governor Babagana Umara Zulum, in continuation of a state policy in place since 2019 that subsidises 75 percent of WASSCE, SSCE and NABTEB fees for eligible students.

According to the Commissioner, a total of ₦1,195,661,872.50 has been committed in 2026 alone toward WASSCE, SSCE, SISE and NABTEB fees, bringing the state’s cumulative investment in external examination fees since 2019 to ₦5,987,567,125.00, benefiting 193,396 students.

Wakilbe said the 2026 SSCE, held across the state’s 24 Local Government Areas, proceeded largely smoothly, despite a security incident in Lassa on June 29, in which 36 learners and one teacher, including a candidate who was sitting the examination at the time were abducted. He prayed for their safe and swift return.

“This gesture reflects Governor Babagana Umara Zulum’s unwavering commitment to ensuring that no child in Borno State is denied the opportunity to sit for their final examinations because of financial hardship,” Wakilbe said.

“Since 2019, we have invested nearly ₦6 billion to keep our children in school and in the examination hall, and we will not relent until every eligible student benefits from this policy. Our thoughts remain with the affected learners and their teacher from Lassa, and we continue to pray fervently for their safe and immediate return to their families and classrooms,” he added.

The Commissioner commended NECO officials, local government chairmen, education secretaries, school principals, teachers, parents and security agencies for their roles in ensuring the successful conduct of the examination.

He further pledged the state government’s continued support toward the planned rollout of Computer-Based Test (CBT) examinations in 2027.