By Newspot Nigeria News Desk
The Forum of South-East Academic Doctors (FOSAD) has strongly condemned what it describes as an illegal and exploitative ₦130,000 “WAEC revalidation fee” allegedly imposed on secondary schools by the Imo State Ministry of Education.
In a press statement signed by its President, Dr. Stephen Nwala, and Secretary General, Dr. Uzor Ngoladi, the academic body accused the Ministry—under the leadership of the Honourable Commissioner for Education, Prof. B.T.O. Ikegwuoha—of unlawfully compelling both public and private secondary schools to pay the fee as a condition for allowing students to sit for the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).
FOSAD described the development as “arbitrary, unlawful, and a clear case of institutional extortion,” stressing that the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) is an independent regional examination body whose accreditation and examination processes are not subject to state ministry control.
According to the group, there is no provision in Nigerian law or WAEC regulations authorizing any state government to impose a revalidation charge in relation to WAEC examinations.
The forum further alleged that public schools have begun transferring the financial burden to students by collecting ₦2,000 per candidate, in addition to an extra ₦500 reportedly tagged as “security during the examination.”
FOSAD warned that such charges, particularly amid prevailing economic hardship, could deepen inequality in access to education and further strain families already struggling with rising costs.
The group also noted that the practice appears to be unique to Imo State, claiming that no other state in the South-East or elsewhere in Nigeria has introduced a similar fee.
Describing the policy as a “direct assault on the right to education,” FOSAD argued that it risks eroding public trust in the state’s education system and creating a negative perception of Imo as an unfriendly environment for academic development.
The forum called on Governor Senator Hope Uzodimma to urgently intervene by halting the collection of the alleged revalidation fee and directing the Ministry of Education to refund any monies already collected.
FOSAD also urged relevant anti-corruption and oversight agencies to investigate the matter and ensure accountability where necessary.
“Education is a public good and a fundamental right, not a revenue stream for illegal levies,” the statement concluded.
— Newspot Nigeria
