The National Examination Council (NECO) addressed concerns on Thursday regarding its staff members nationwide who are scheduled to write promotion examinations at the organization’s headquarters in Minna, Niger State.
In response to queries, NECO’s Public Relations Officer, Azeez Sani, clarified that conducting promotion exams at the headquarters is a standard practice.
A memorandum obtained by SPRINGNEWS outlined NECO’s directive for eligible staff members to appear at its headquarters from January 13, 2024, to January 15, 2024, for the promotion examinations. However, worries were raised about the insecurity prevalent in the country and the potential risks involved in traveling to Minna.
According to reports, staff members taking the examination will bear the costs of allowances, transportation, medication, accommodation, and other related expenses, without financial support from NECO during the examination period.
Concerns were also raised about the change in examination format, noting that in 2020/2021, the exam was conducted on a zonal basis, which provided convenience for participants. The current centralized approach poses challenges for individuals traveling from distant states like Rivers, Borno, Taraba, Lagos to Niger State, exposing them to potential risks such as kidnapping, accidents, and unfavorable conditions.
Responding to these concerns, NECO’s spokesperson, Azeez Sani, emphasized that it has always been the norm for eligible staff members to report to Minna for promotion exams.
Sani stated, ‘They were asked to come to Minna for a promotion exam; the exam has always been held at the headquarters; that has always been the norm.’
Addressing the issue of security, he noted, ‘When those staff were given employment letters, where was the documentation done? Was it not at the headquarters? Some people were recently recruited; their documentation wasn’t it done in Minna, the headquarters?’
Sani urged against politicizing the matter, emphasizing that although there are security challenges in the country, this practice has been in effect since the inception of NECO. He concluded, ‘It’s even a privilege for one to be promoted in his workplace, so if you are asked to come for a promotion exam, what is bad in that? This is not the first time; it has always been the norm over the years, in fact, since the inception of NECO, it has always been like that.’