NECO Registrar has been asked to provide proof of 2025 budget implementation as budget defence was stepped down
The National Assembly joint committee on basic education on Wednesday expressed concern over the National Examinations Council‘s (NECO) unauthorized use of internally generated revenue (IGR) from the sale of Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) registration forms.
The issue came to light during a budget defence session at the national assembly complex, where NECO’s Registrar, Prof. Ibrahim Wushishi, appeared before the committee to present the 2024 budget performance and 2025 proposals.
The session was abruptly halted as lawmakers cited inconsistencies in NECO’s presentation. Wushishi disclosed that NECO generated over N22 billion in 2024 from the sale of SSCE registration forms priced at N22,250 to over 1.3 million candidates. Out of this sum, the Federal Government deducted N9.5 billion at source.
However, the committee questioned this deduction, noting that the claimed figure did not align with the government’s fiscal policy, which mandates a 50 percent deduction from such revenues.
“Because of the fiscal policy of the government to deduct 50 percent directly from source, the government has taken N9.5 billion from the same account, which makes NECO difficult to operate. We are still reconciling and following up with the office of the Accountant General of the Federation to resolve this,” Wushishi explained.
The NECO boss added that the balance from the IGR was used to conduct five different examinations, but admitted that the agency could not provide a comprehensive breakdown due to the deductions and ongoing reconciliations with the Accountant General’s office.
Dissatisfied with the explanations, the committee unanimously adopted a motion to step down NECO’s budget defence. Prof. Wushishi was instructed to return with additional documents, including the approved 2024 budget, details of the examinations conducted, the number of registered candidates, the amounts paid, and up-to-date bank statements.
Additionally, the NECO Registrar revealed that while N100 million was appropriated in 2024 for land compensation related to the construction of NECO’s zonal and state office in Dawaki, Kano State, no funds were released for the project by the end of the fiscal year.
On personnel costs, he noted that N9.8 billion was approved for 2024, with 97.5 percent of the funds utilized.
Chairman of the committee, Rep. Oboku Oforji (PDP Bayelsa), reiterated that the legislature’s oversight role is crucial for the effective implementation of budgets. He assured that the committee’s intention was not to undermine NECO but to ensure accountability and transparency.
“The legislative branch must play an active role in addressing these matters properly. Agencies should view us as partners in progress and not adversaries. We urge all stakeholders to do the needful by implementing government projects and programmes transparently,” Oforji stated.
He also called on the Ministry of Finance and the Accountant General of the Federation to ensure timely release of funds to agencies to enable them to meet their obligations
