Examiners hired by the National Examinations Council (NECO) to grade the 2024 students’ examination papers have issued a two-week ultimatum to the council, demanding immediate payment of outstanding allowances or risk a nationwide protest. This comes amid rising frustration among examiners, who completed their marking assignments over three months ago but have yet to receive their wages.
Reports indicate that examiners have begun mobilizing colleagues across various states to prepare for a potential protest if NECO fails to resolve the payment issue. The movement has gained traction following a letter dated November 8, 2024, written by disgruntled examiners in Kano and shared with NECO examiners in Plateau State. The letter, addressed to NECO’s Chief Registrar in Minna, highlights the severe dissatisfaction and discontent over the non-payment, which only a minority of examiners across the country have received.
The letter reads: “Dear Sir, we write to bring to your urgent attention the ongoing issues surrounding the payment of examiners who were engaged in marking the recent examination papers set by the National Examinations Council (NECO). It is very appalling that despite the examinations being marked over three months ago, and the release of the candidates’ results for over a month now, a majority of the examiners are yet to receive the wages they are owed for their laborious efforts.”
Examiners emphasized their role in the timely release of examination results and condemned the delay in payments as “unacceptable” and “disregard for their welfare,” especially given the current economic challenges facing many Nigerian workers. The letter further issued a two-week deadline for NECO to process all outstanding payments, threatening coordinated protests across Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, if demands are unmet.
In addition to the threat of a protest, the examiners hinted at potential legal action, stating that any further delay could prompt them to seek recourse for “negligence and disregard for their rights as workers.” The letter concluded with a plea for NECO to act promptly to prevent “further disruptions or escalations.”
Several examiners in Jos expressed readiness to participate in the protest if the council does not address their demands, underscoring the growing unrest within the group. Attempts to reach NECO’s Registrar and Chief Executive Officer, Prof. Dantani Wushishi, were unsuccessful, as his phone line was reported switched off on Sunday, further fueling the examiners’ frustration.
This pending protest marks a critical moment for NECO, as examiner dissatisfaction could escalate into significant disruptions if payments are not swiftly processed.