WAEC Allegedly Demanded N1.8m To Process List Of Best Students Up For Awards
The West African Examination Council, WAEC, has allegedly demanded N1, 850, 000 to process the list of best outstanding students for 2014/2015 May/June Senior Secondary School Examination.
This was contained in a letter by the Council to a non-government organisation, Edubox, which requested for the list in order to reward the students.
In a letter dated 8th December, 2015 sighted by Vanguard, the Chief Executive Officer of Edubox, Mr. Sanusi Tosin, wrote WAEC, requesting for the list of the students in the 36 states of the country.
The letter read: “The above named organisation (EDUBOX) hereby request, from your establishment the list of the best outstanding students in the May/June West African Examination Council for the year 2014/2015 Academic session in each of the states in Nigeria”
“It is the aim of the organisation to reward these students, with the purpose of inspiring the younger generation. This platform also, will be used to empower youth that are aspiring to go further in their educational pursuit.”
WAEC’s response
The examination body in a letter dated 20th January, 2016, asked the organisation to draw a bank draft in the sum of N1, 850, 000 in order for it to process the data of the students. WAEC’s letter reads
“Please refer to your letter dated 8th December, 2015 on the above subject”
“This is to inform you that the cost of processing the data is N1, 850, 000.00 (one million, eight hundred and fifty thousand naira) only.
“Kindly draw a bank draft in this sum in favour of the West African Examinations Council to enable us process your request”.
The letter was signed by Dr.O.F. Dacosta, the Officer-in-Charge (Test Administration).
Meanwhile, in a telephone interview, Mr. Sanusi said that his body was disappointed by the request of the examination council. He said that an officer of the Council called him, few days, after submitting his letter, asking him if the organisation needs the hard or soft copy of the result.
“I told the officer that we will be glad if we can have both. We were shocked to receive the letter from WAEC demanding this sum of money,” he said.
He added the demand has hindered his organisation in executing the project as WAEC is yet to furnish it with the names because it has not paid the money it (WAEC) demanded.
Efforts to get the reaction of WAEC proved abortive as at the time of filing this report.
