Delta Publishers Pleads With Fed. Govt. To Extend Enforcement Of Age Restrictions For WAEC/ NECO Candidates

Ogheneruona Tejiri, Asaba

The Federal Government has been called upon to give more time before enforcing the 18 years age restriction policy for West Africa Examination Council (WAEC), National Examination Council (NECO) and Joint Admission Matriculation Board (JAMB) examination candidates.

This appeal was made by Comr. Jude Obiemenyego, Chairman, Delta State chapter of Association of Community Newspaper Publishers of Nigeria (ACNPN) in a statement in Asaba, he said there is reason to delay the enforcement of the policy.

While noting that reasons adduced by Prof. Tahir Mamman, Minister for Education for the planned implementation of the age restriction policy were not out of place, Comr. Obiemenyego said that the Federal Government should allow at least two more years window ” to enable parents, guardians, students and stakeholders in education make necessary psychological, financial and career adjustments plans.”

According to Comr. Obiemenyego, “this appeal for more time has become imperative considering the increasing cases of social vices like cultism, drug addiction and cyber crimes amongst the youths, especially teenagers.”

He added, “If students who are currently under 18 years, entering Senior Secondary School (SSS)3 by the commencement of the 2024/2025 academic session later this September are abruptly prevented from writing WAEC and NECO examinations in May/June 2025, they would be psychologically devastated and become susceptible to negative peer influence, leading to further increase in teenage drug addiction, cultism, under age pregnancies and cyber crimes, because their parents and guardians struggling for economic survival amid the spiralling cost of goods and services won’t have enough time to attend to the eligible WAEC and NECO candidates, who have to wait for extra years, before enrolling for the exams.”

Comr. Obiemenyego, also commended Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori for insisting on standards in the execution of roads, bridges and other Infrastructural projects in the state.

He stated that Governor Oborevwori, has demonstrated strong desire for the execution of long lasting infrastructural projects and people driven policies for the past 14 months.

The Delta State chairman of Community Newspaper Publishers spoke further, “I want to enjoin Governor Oborevwori, not to relent in his quest for excellence in project execution. He should as a matter of necessity, launch a broad based agricultural development programmes that would involve active participation of the 25 local government councils in the state.”