The National Assembly has stepped into the growing controversy surrounding the Federal Government’s proposal to set an age limit of 18 years for students to sit for the West Africa Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).
The proposal, announced by the Minister of Education, Professor Tahir Mamman, has sparked widespread criticism from various quarters, including former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, and several Civil Society Organizations (CSOs). Critics have described the policy as “archaic and draconian,” urging the government to halt its implementation and convene a meeting with education sector stakeholders to deliberate on the matter.
In response to the public outcry, the Senate has indicated that it will hold a public hearing on the issue when it comes before the senators. Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Yemi Adaramodu (APC, Ekiti South), stated that “the Senate will consider, through its relevant committee, public views on any government policy brought to our legislative notice.”
Spokesman of the House of Representatives, Akin Rotimi, said the Green Chamber has no position on the matter yet, as members have not been briefed. “I cannot say anything for now. When the House resumes and the matter is brought before it, it will be looked into,” he said.
The National Assembly’s intervention comes as a relief to many who have expressed concerns about the proposed policy’s potential impact on Nigeria’s education system.
