The Borno State Government has paid ₦622.31 million to the National Examinations Council (NECO) to cover the 2026 Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (SSCE) fees for 27,599 final-year students in public secondary schools across the state.

The payment was made by the Borno State Commissioner for Education, Science, Technology and Innovation, Lawan Abba Wakilbe, who presented a cheque of ₦622,308,300 to officials of NECO in Maiduguri on behalf of Governor Babagana Umara Zulum.

The latest payment is part of the state government’s policy, introduced in 2019, to subsidise 75 percent of WASSCE, SSCE and NABTEB examination fees for eligible students.

Borno Commits Nearly ₦1.2 Billion to Examination Fees in 2026

According to Commissioner Wakilbe, the Borno State Government has committed a total of ₦1.195 billion towards WASSCE, SSCE, SISE and NABTEB examination fees in 2026.

Since the policy was introduced in 2019, the state government’s cumulative investment in external examination fees has reached approximately ₦5.99 billion, benefiting 193,396 students across Borno State.

The commissioner said the initiative is aimed at ensuring that financial difficulties do not prevent eligible students from completing their secondary education and participating in important external examinations.

Government Expresses Concern Over Lassa Abductions

Wakilbe also disclosed that the 2026 SSCE was conducted across Borno State’s 24 Local Government Areas and proceeded largely smoothly despite a security incident in Lassa on June 29.

According to him, 36 learners and one teacher, including a candidate who was taking the examination at the time, were abducted during the incident.

The commissioner expressed concern over the situation and prayed for the safe and immediate return of the affected students and teacher to their families and classrooms.

He reiterated the state government’s commitment to supporting students despite the challenges facing the education sector.

“This gesture reflects Governor Babagana Umara Zulum’s unwavering commitment to ensuring that no child in Borno State is denied the opportunity to sit for their final examinations because of financial hardship,” Wakilbe said.

He added that the government would continue investing in education and examination support until every eligible student benefits from the policy.

Government Commends Stakeholders

The commissioner commended NECO officials, local government chairmen, education secretaries, school principals, teachers, parents and security agencies for their contributions towards the successful conduct of the examination.

He said the cooperation of these stakeholders remains important in ensuring that students can participate in external examinations despite the various challenges affecting the state.

Borno Supports 2027 CBT Examination Plans

The Borno State Government also pledged its continued support for the planned introduction of Computer-Based Test (CBT) examinations in 2027.

The commitment is expected to support the transition towards more technology-driven assessment systems and help schools and students prepare for the changing examination landscape in Nigeria.

The payment of the NECO fees highlights the importance of government intervention in reducing financial barriers to education and ensuring that students from public schools have the opportunity to complete their secondary education and sit for major national examinations.