By Atoyebi Nike
The House of Representatives Committee on Basic Education and Examination Bodies has expressed its commitment to working closely with national exam bodies such as the National Examination Council (NECO), the West African Examination Council (WAEC), and the National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB) to enhance the quality of education in Nigeria.
Chairman of the Committee, Oboku Oforji (PDP, Bayelsa), made the pledge on Tuesday during an oversight visit to selected schools in Abuja to monitor the conduct of ongoing NECO examinations across the country.
“We are here to see what NECO is doing. NECO is very important to us. Yes, WAEC is also our own, but WAEC is West African. NECO is our national pride,” Oforji told journalists. He praised NECO’s leadership under Professor Ibrahim Wushishi and highlighted its efforts in combating examination malpractice.
Oforji particularly commended NECO’s use of master sheets containing candidates’ passport photographs and supervisor-verified attendance logs as validation tools. “These validation protocols are commendable steps to ensure integrity in our examinations,” he noted.
He added that the Committee was impressed by students’ commitment and discipline observed during the exams, expressing hope that continued efforts will produce better educational outcomes in the future.
“If this tempo is sustained, we are going to have a better tomorrow. We are very confident in our students and in our country,” Oforji said.
The lawmaker further stated that ongoing reforms in the education sector would have a positive impact on all examination bodies, emphasizing the need for continuous collaboration and institutional support to elevate academic standards nationwide.
