National Telescope national telescope newspaper
By Oyedunmola Olakunle
Examiners who were engaged by the National Examinations Council (NECO) to mark the 2024 examination papers have threatened to launch a nationwide protest over the non-payment of their entitlements.
The aggrieved examiners, who completed their assignments months ago, have reportedly started mobilising their colleagues across the country for the protest.
A letter written by examiners in Kano and circulated to NECO examiners in Plateau State, confirmed the development. The letter, dated November 8, 2024, and addressed to the NECO Chief Registrar at the National Headquarters in Minna, called attention to the delay in payment for the marking of examination scripts, despite the release of candidates’ results over a month ago.
The letter reads in part: “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 over a month ago, the majority of the examiners have yet to receive the wages they are owed for their laborious efforts. Only a few have been paid nationwide.”
The examiners expressed frustration over what they described as “negligence and disregard for our welfare,” particularly given the economic challenges many are facing. They stressed that the delay in payment is unacceptable, given their crucial role in ensuring the smooth conduct and evaluation of the examinations.
As a result, the examiners have issued a two-week ultimatum to NECO to settle the outstanding payments. If the issue is not resolved within this period, they warned that they would be forced to embark on a nationwide protest, with coordinated efforts across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (Abuja).
“We trust that NECO will take immediate action to rectify this situation and ensure that the examiners are paid without any further delay. Failure to do so will force us to pursue legal action against the examining body for negligence and total disregard for our rights as workers,” the letter concluded.
In interviews with some of the examiners in Jos, they expressed readiness to join the protest if their demands were not met. “We are ready to take action if NECO continues to ignore our rights,” one of the examiners stated.
Efforts to reach NECO’s Registrar and Chief Executive Officer, Prof. Dantani Wushishi, for comment were unsuccessful as his phone was switched off when contacted by our correspondent.
