Niger Part-Pays N500 Million NECO Debt

By Ayodele Oni

To prevent its students from being blacklisted by the examination body, Niger state has commenced offsetting part of the N500 million debt it owes the National Examinations Council, (NECO).

Already, the state has paid  N120 million  for its Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (SSCE) candidates.

The state Commissioner for Information and Strategy,  Hajiya Binta Mamman, disclosed this in Minna on Monday, saying “We inherited N500 million from the previous administration as SSCE fees.

“Governor Umaru Bago approved a standing order of monthly payment of N30 million to NECO to offset the debt. We have paid N120 million since May 29 when this government assumed office,’’

She listed priority areas of the state government as education, security, science and technology, agriculture, commerce, tourism, civil service, health and infrastructure and urban renewal.

Mamman also listed local government administration, traditional institution, revenue generation and women and youth development as other priority areas.

She appealed to traditional and community leaders to contribute their quota to intelligence gathering to help tackle insecurity in the state.

She said traditional and community leaders played critical roles in the lives of the citizens, adding that intelligence reports from them was critical in maintaining security.

Mamman said government has repositioned the traditional institution by restoring its dignity when he paid sallah homage to the eight emirates across the state.

According to her, instead of the usual Sallah visit by the traditional rulers to the governor, the governor decided to visit them.

She solicited the support of the traditional rulers to enable the present administration to actualize its dream of transforming the state into an enviable New Niger State.

She added that as part of efforts to address security challenges, the governor donated 20 operational vehicles to security agencies to checkmate proliferation of illicit drugs and curb other forms of crimes in the state.