The House of Representatives on Wednesday rejected a motion calling on the federal government to make all secondary school examinations for 2023/2024 free for all Nigerians as part of measures to cushion the effect of fuel subsidy removal.
The motion, moved by Anamero Dekeri (Edo, APC), asked the federal government to pay the fees for the WAEC, NECO and UTME examinations for all students.
However, the motion was rejected by the lawmakers after a long debate on the floor of the House.
This motion is coming at a time when Nigerians are still condemning the action of lawmakers to spend billions on their official vehicles. In the motion, Dekeri said the federal government already saved money through the removal of petroleum subsidy and should help families that are struggling.
“With the cooperation of the masses, the federal government was able to deliver Nigerians from a few individuals that took the nation’s economy hostage through fuel subsidy payment conduit pipe that has plundered this country’s economy for too long.
As a result of the removal of fuel subsidy, the government may have saved approximately (NI7, 200,000,000.00) seventeen billion two hundred million naira only, daily from a few cartels that have been sucking the poor masses,” he said.
He prayed the House to urge the Ministry of Education to declare 2023 and 2024 WAEC, NECO and JAMB examinations registration free, to enable the common man have a direct benefit of fuel subsidy removal palliatives.
He further prayed the lower House to urge the Minister of Finance, Budget, Economic and National Planning to come up with robust framework that will give the poor masses sense of belonging in the Nigeria.
In his contribution, the motion, the House Leader, Julius Ihonvbere (APC, Edo), opposed the motion in its entirety, just as he proposed an amendment for each member to adopt schools in their constituency and pay the bills. But the amendment was countered by Ado Doguwa, who said members are already paying the fees. Following a long debate, Awaji Abiante moved a motion for the House to step it down, and it was adopted unanimously.
