The National Examinations Council, NECO, has confirmed the payment of allowances to all 72,138 ad-hoc examiners involved in the 2024 School-based Senior School Certificate Examination.
The announcement was made in Abuja on Wednesday by Azeez Sani, the Acting Director of Information and Public Relations at NECO.
Sani explained that payments were initiated on October 4 and processed through direct bank transfers to ensure smooth reconciliation and avoid discrepancies. He urged the public to disregard recent rumors circulating on social media suggesting that NECO had intentionally withheld payment from the examiners.
“NECO has successfully completed the payment of all examiner allowances as of Wednesday, November 13, 2024, following the planned schedule,” Sani stated. He also addressed the issue of incorrect bank details submitted by some examiners, noting that the Council had worked to resolve these discrepancies.
With payments cleared across 24 banks, Sani emphasized that the claims of non-payment are false and unfounded. He urged any individual with concerns to directly seek clarification from NECO rather than resorting to media speculation.
“NECO values the contributions of its examiners and other ad-hoc staff in the successful conduct of our examinations, and we ensure that their remuneration is handled with the utmost priority and respect,” he added.
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Recall that examiners who marked the 2024 students’ examination papers for NECO issued a two-week ultimatum, threatening to embark on a nationwide protest over unpaid allowances. Despite completing the marking process over three months ago and the release of results more than a month ago, many examiners said they are yet to receive their entitlements, with only a few individuals reported to have been paid.
The concern was formalized in a letter sent by Kano-based examiners to NECO’s Chief Registrar, dated November 8, 2024. The letter, which was shared with examiners in Plateau State, condemned the delay in payments and expressed deep frustration over the matter.
“It is very appalling that, despite the examinations being marked over three months ago and the release of the results over a month ago, the majority of the examiners have yet to receive the wages they are owed,” the letter read.
The examiners accused NECO of negligence, stating that they had not been compensated for their efforts, which undermined their dedication, especially considering the current economic challenges.
The letter went on to issue a clear warning: “NECO has been given a two-week deadline to resolve the payment issue, or the examiners will initiate a nationwide protest, coordinated across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. The protest is expected to disrupt the operations of the examining body if no action is taken.
“If this matter is not resolved within the stipulated timeframe, the examiners will have no choice but to pursue legal action against NECO for negligence and total disregard for their rights,” the letter added.
The examiners are demanding prompt payment and have made it clear that failure to meet their demands will lead to further actions, including protest and possible legal recourse.
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