Kefas releases N1.39 billion for WAEC, NECO fees
Taraba State Governor Agbu Kefas has released the sum of N1.39 billion to cover the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) fees for 39,000 students in public secondary schools across the
- From John Mkom, Jalingo
Taraba State Governor Agbu Kefas has released the sum of N1.39 billion to cover the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) fees for 39,000 students in public secondary schools across the state.
The development forms part of Kefas’ ongoing free and compulsory education policy, aimed at removing financial barriers to education and ensuring that every child in the state has access to quality learning.
According to the Commissioner for Information and Reorientation, Taraba State Government, Hon. Zainab Jalingo, the approval covers a total of N1,390,209,350.00 for the settlement of 2026 WAEC fees for 39,536 students.
This includes payments for CASS offload, administrative charges, practicals, monitoring, sensitisation, remuneration, school albums, registration PINs, and other related examination expenses.
"Following the release of funds for WAEC, the Taraba State Government is also set to settle the examination fees of 38,000 students who will be sitting for the National Examinations Council (NECO) as the next phase of the intervention, further expanding access to external examinations for students across the state," she said.
In addition to the WAEC intervention, the Governor has also approved the release of N243,832,615.00 to support food contractors and transporters involved in the state’s Students Exchange Programme.
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The approval covers feeding arrangements and transportation logistics for students participating in the programme across schools in the state.
"Out of this amount, N148,565,040.00 is allocated for the feeding of students at Government Comprehensive Secondary School Jalingo and Government Day Secondary School Wukari, while N52,750,490.00 and N42,517,085.00 are earmarked for the transportation of indigenous and non-indigenous students participating in the exchange programme across the 19 northern states," she added.
"These interventions reflect the administration’s sustained commitment to strengthening the education sector by ensuring that students participate seamlessly in both internal and external academic programmes.
"Through the free education policy, the government continues to expand access to education, improve learning infrastructure, and provide critical support that enables students across the state to pursue their academic aspirations.
"With these interventions, the Taraba State Government remains committed to ensuring that children in the state have no reason to be out of school, as the administration continues to prioritise education as a foundation for sustainable development," Barr. Jalingo said.
