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Borno State Governor, Babagana Umara Zulum, has approved the payment of ₦622.3 million to cover the 2026 National Examinations Council (NECO) fees for 27,599 final-year students in public secondary schools across the state.
The payment, which underscores the state government’s continued intervention in education, was formally presented to NECO officials in Maiduguri by the Commissioner for Education, Science, Technology and Innovation, Engr. Lawan Abba Wakilbe, on behalf of the governor.
The latest intervention is part of Borno’s education policy introduced in 2019, under which the government subsidises 75 per cent of the examination fees for eligible students sitting for major external examinations, including WASSCE, SSCE and NABTEB.
Wakilbe disclosed that the state government has so far committed ₦1.196 billion in 2026 alone to examination fees covering WASSCE, SSCE, SISE and NABTEB.
He added that the latest payment brings Borno’s total expenditure on external examination fees since the commencement of the policy in 2019 to approximately ₦5.99 billion, benefiting 193,396 students.
According to the commissioner, the intervention is designed to remove financial barriers that could prevent students from completing their secondary education or participating in critical qualifying examinations.
“This gesture reflects Governor Babagana Umara Zulum’s unwavering commitment to ensuring that no child in Borno State is denied the opportunity to sit for their final examinations because of financial hardship,” Wakilbe said.
He noted that the 2026 SSCE was conducted across all 24 local government areas of the state and was generally successful despite the security challenges confronting some communities.
However, the commissioner expressed concern over a disturbing incident in Lassa on June 29, when 36 students and a teacher were abducted, including a candidate who was reportedly writing the examination when the incident occurred.
Wakilbe prayed for the safe and speedy return of the abducted learners and teacher to their families, describing their situation as a painful reminder of the security challenges facing education in parts of the state.
“Since 2019, we have invested nearly ₦6 billion to keep our children in school and in the examination hall, and we will not relent until every eligible student benefits from this policy,” he said.
The commissioner also praised NECO officials, local government chairmen, education secretaries, principals, teachers, parents and security agencies for their contributions towards the smooth conduct of the examination.
He assured that the Borno Government would sustain its partnership with relevant examination bodies and continue preparing schools for the planned transition to Computer-Based Testing (CBT) examinations in 2027.
The development further highlights the state government’s efforts to ease the financial burden of education on families while keeping students within the formal education system despite the challenges posed by insecurity and economic hardship.
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