Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has strongly criticized the Federal Government’s recent decision to impose an 18-year minimum age limit for candidates intending to sit for the National Examination Council (NECO) and West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).
Atiku labeled the policy as “outdated” and urged for its universal condemnation.
The new policy was disclosed by the Minister of Education, Tahir Mamman, in a recent interview, where he announced that individuals below the age of 18 would no longer be allowed to take the NECO and WASSCE exams.
The minister further revealed that the government had instructed both NECO and WAEC, the body responsible for administering WASSCE, to enforce this age requirement.
Reacting to the policy in a statement released on August 28, Atiku Abubakar lambasted the decision, describing it as an “absurdity” and a “disincentive to scholarship.”
He argued that the policy was not only unconstitutional but also counterproductive in addressing the myriad of challenges facing Nigeria’s educational system.
“Tinubu’s policy on age limit for tertiary education admission belongs in the Stone Ages,” Atiku stated, referring to President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
“The recent policy of the Federal Ministry of Education pegging age limits for entry to tertiary institutions is an absurdity and a disincentive to scholarship.”
Atiku further contended that the policy undermines the principles of federalism, which grant more authority to sub-national governments over educational matters.
He criticized the federal government’s approach, likening it to a “decree,” and emphasized that the best global standard would be to allow state governments to make their own laws or rules regarding education.
“The policy runs foul of the notion of delineation of responsibilities in a federal system of government such as we are practicing and gives a graphic impression of how the Tinubu government behaves like a lost sailor on a high sea,” he added.
The former vice president also expressed concern over the government’s apparent lack of consideration for specially gifted students, calling it an “embarrassment” to Nigeria’s intellectual community.
He argued that the government’s role should be to identify and support gifted students, regardless of their age, rather than impose restrictive policies.
“This controversial policy belongs in the Stone Ages and should be roundly condemned by everyone who believes in intellectual freedom and accessibility,” Atiku concluded.
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