The Zamfara state government has successfully cleared over N3 billion in outstanding Senior Secondary Schools Examination (SSCE) fees that were left unpaid by the previous administration. This significant development was announced by the State Commissioner for Science and Technical Education, Wadatau Madawaki, during a press briefing in Gusau on Tuesday.
“This is one of the greatest achievements recorded by Governor Dauda Lawal’s administration in the education sector within one year. Education is the second highest priority on the current administration’s agenda, recognizing its critical role in societal development,” Madawaki stated.
The commissioner expressed regret that many students had completed secondary school without receiving their results due to the previous administration’s failure to pay examination fees. This debt, totaling over N3 billion, was owed to the West African Secondary School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and the National Examination Council (NECO).
“This affected the enrolment of our children in tertiary institutions across the country for the past three years. However, within one year in office, this administration has paid all outstanding fees to the examination bodies,” Madawaki said.
As a result of this payment, students who had been waiting for their results for the past three years can now access them and have successfully enrolled in various tertiary institutions across Nigeria.
Beyond resolving the examination fee issue, the Zamfara government is tackling broader challenges within the education sector. “We are working day and night to address various challenges in the education sector in the state,” Madawaki explained.
Key areas of focus include the renovation of school infrastructure, provision of teaching and learning materials, establishment of well-equipped libraries and laboratories, and the recruitment of qualified teachers.
“We have embarked on the total renovation of 325 schools across the state and plan to construct and renovate laboratories in these schools,” Madawaki added.
