The House of Representatives has rejected a motion seeking to compel examination bodies such as JAMB, WAEC and NECO to register students free of charge for the 2023-2024 examination.
This followed the adoption of a motion by Rep. Anamero Dekeri (APC-Edo) during plenary in Abuja on Wednesday.
Presenting the motion, Dekeri said that the removal of the fuel subsidiary by the government had negatively impacted on most Nigerians, particularly low-income earners.
He also said that profiteers were taking undue advantage of the situation by increasing the cost of essential commodities thereby further proposing the people.
He said one of the major challenges of the low-income earning parents was the education of their wards particularly in payment of examination fees.
He said that with the cooperation of the masses, the federal government was able to deliver Nigerians from a few individuals who took the nation’s economy hostage.
This he said happened through fuel subsidy payment conduit pipe that has plundered this country’s economy for too long.
He said as a result of the removal of fuel subsidy, the government might have saved approximately NI7 billion daily from a few cartels that had been sucking the poor masses.
The lawmaker said that the government was making plans for permanent and commensurate benefits for poor masses who had suffered the effect of fuel subsidy removal.
In his prayers, Dekeri urged the Ministry of Education to declare 2023 and 2024 WAEC, NECO and JAMB examinations registration free of charge.
This would serve as a palliative to poor Nigerians.
He also urged the Minister of Finance, Budget, Economic and National Planning to come up with a robust framework that would give the poor people a sense of belonging in Nigeria.
Rep. Julius Ihonvbere, the Leader of the House urged the lawmakers to adopt a school in their constituencies to pay the school fees of their constituents.
This was supported by Rep. Kingsley Chinder, the Minority Leader of the house.
Rep. Alhassan Ado-Doguwa (APC-Kano) however kicked against the Ihonvbere amendment, while calling for caution, adding that the way the motion was going, would put some of them in trouble.
“We have been paying this fee at a personal level, so I will advise we exercise caution in handling the motion,” he said.
Rep Olumide Osoba (APC-Ogun) said the burden should not be on the Ministry of Education, adding that the state governments should also assist.
Rep. Afolabi Maruf (APC-Lagos) said that only public schools should be included in the free school fees, adding that private schools should not benefit from the gesture.
Some of the lawmakers however pleaded with the speaker to step down the motion.
Rep. Awaji-Inombek Abiante (PDP-Rivers) moved that the motion be stepped down, while Rep. Sesy whingan(APC-Lagos) seconded the motion.
When Speaker Tajudeen Abbas put the motion to voice votes, the lawmakers voted that the motion be stepped down.