Benue Orders Refund of N106,000 Over WAEC/NECO Fees
The Benue State Government, through the Education Quality Assurance and Examinations Board (BEQAE), has ordered Jewel Model School, Makurdi, to immediately reverse the N106,000 fee being charged parents for West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and National Examinations Council (NECO) registration, labeling it excessive and unjustifiable.
The directive followed complaints from parents alleging arbitrary and inflated examination fees. BEQAE summoned the school’s proprietor, principal, and PTA executives for a meeting, where the school reportedly failed to justify the amount demanded.
Dr. Terna Francis, Executive Secretary of BEQAE, clarified that the approved WAEC registration fee is N28,000, while NECO’s 2026 charges are yet to be announced. He noted that schools may collect a handling fee not exceeding N5,000 per exam.
“Registration for WAEC and NECO is optional, not compulsory,” Francis said, emphasizing that additional costs must be transparently discussed and agreed upon with parents.
The Executive Secretary also condemned the school’s practice of routing payments through the proprietor’s personal bank account, describing it as a breach of accountability and transparency. He further expressed concern over the lack of PTA meetings for nearly two years and the restricted platforms for parental engagement.
Francis directed the Director of Enforcement and Compliance Operations, Rev. Fr. Dr. Terungwa Tor, to place the school under close monitoring to ensure compliance.
He warned that schools exploiting parents risk severe sanctions, including withdrawal of their operating licenses, noting that such practices exacerbate the problem of out-of-school children—an issue the government is determined to tackle.
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