WAEC Releases 13 States' Withheld Results

The West African Examinations Council, WAEC, has released results of
more than 200,000 candidates which were withheld due to the
indebtedness of their various states to the council. Affected
candidates can now check their results at the council's website.

Head of WAEC National Office, Nigeria, Mr Charles Eguridu, had at a
press briefing in Abuja last Wednesday promised to release the
withheld results within 24 hours following the intervention of the
Nigerian Governors Forum, NGF, which promised to ensure governors of
the 13 indebted states pay their debts.

The Head, Public Relations of the West African Examinations Council,
WAEC, Nigeria, Mr. Ari Yusuf, toldVanguard,yesterday, that "the
Chairman, NGF, Governor Abdulazeez Yari of Zamfara State, had promised
to expedite action to recover the money and a promise made at that
level is difficult to doubt. A serious meeting will be held with the
affected state governors to get the debt paid and we are happy with
the approach of the NGF."

Also speaking withVanguard, Executive Director, NGF, Alhaji Tayo
Shittu, affirmed that the debts owed WAEC will be paid as soon as
possible, adding that the national financial challenges do not permit
the debtors to give a time frame.

He said: "Remember that these debts are for 2015 and we are just above
half of the year. They are not outstanding debts. If I am owing you in
2015, it is understandable. If it was a backlog, we can shout and say,
how come they have not paid. Everybody knows that there are economic
challenges everywhere. We have given them every assurance that this
money will be paid, but we cannot give a specific time.

"You will recall that Wednesday evening, WAEC, which had vowed to
withhold indefinitely results of the 13 states owing the council,
recanted the threat, saying the NGF had promised to hold a meeting
with the affected states governors to recover the money.

The Head National Office, HNO, Nigeria WAEC has on Wednesday in Abuja
during a press briefing said: "We have decided to listen to the
appeals and review our earlier position."

Eguridu, who maintained his earlier stand not to mention the council's
debtors said: "If I start to mention the names of states that are
owing, I may not be fair to those that have paid and those making
efforts to pay."

He explained that since WAEC is not a profit-making organization and
her creditors were on its neck, he had to cry out, adding: "In the
present circumstance, the government is subsidizing examination fees
of candidates in Nigeria."
—Vanguard