The Bauchi State Government is to spend the sum of ₦793.6 million as payment for various exams for 25,410 indigent SS3 students for the 2025 academic season.
The students will be registered to write the 2025 National Examination Council (NECO) and the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) examinations.
The disclosure was made by the State Commissioner of Education, Dr Muhammed Lawal Rimin-Zayam, in a news conference held in his office on Tuesday.
He said that the State Governor, Sen Bala Mohammad, has approved the immediate release of the amount to cater for the fees.
According to him, other external examinations to be paid for include the National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB) and the National Board for Arabic and Islamic Studies (NBAIS).
He explained that the beneficiaries are the SS3-indexed students in public secondary schools across the state, adding that the gesture is part of the governor’s resolve to support parents considering the economic situation of the country.
The Commissioner added that the move would further ensure enrolment, retention, as well as the transition of students in Bauchi schools.
According to him, “This substantial financial commitment underscores Governor Mohammed’s dedication to ensuring that all qualified students in Bauchi State have the opportunity to pursue their academic goals without financial barriers.”
The Commissioner added, “This unprecedented action by the governor is quite commendable and is a good gesture in the right direction to ensure that every child in the state has access to education.”
Muhammad Lawan added, “As I’m talking to you now, we have this money in our coffers and we are just waiting for the right time to disburse it to those examination bodies for the purpose it was intended.”
“It is about time that parents know the importance of education as the government is willing to assist in such a direction. They should also complement this by sending their wards and children to school,” he concluded.