After House Of Reps Intervention, NECO Postpones Staff Promotion Examination Indefinitely

The Management of the National Examinations Council (NECO) has announced the indefinite postponement of the 2024 Staff Promotion Examination earlier scheduled to hold on 14th and 15th February 2024 in Minna, Niger State.

A statement signed by the Examination Body’s Ag. Director, Directorate of Information and Digital Communication, Azeez Sani stated that the postponement is in compliance with the directive of the Committee on Basic Examination Bodies of the House of Representatives as contained in a letter referenced NASS/HR/10/CT.20/64 dated 9th February, 2024 and signed by the Chairman of the Committee Hon. Oboku Abonsizibe Oforji.

THE WHISTLER reports that the House of Representatives suspended the NECO’s promotion examinations, citing security concerns.

This was after the lawmaker representing Afijio, Oyo West, Oyo East, and Atiba West federal constituency of Oyo State, Akeem Adeniyi, brought forward a motion of urgent national importance on Wednesday arguing that it is “perilous to ask one thousand five hundred federal staff of the National Examination Council (NECO) to travel all the way to Minna for promotion examinations amid insecurity and hardship in the country.”

Adeniyi had pointed out that in the past, NECO has conducted similar promotion exams for its staff at regional offices without requiring a large gathering in one location.

He had also asserted that “the examination body which conducts examinations for candidates all over the country has the capacity to conduct promotion examinations for its staff in different States of the Federation.”

The motion highlighted the ongoing security challenges in parts of Nigeria and also noted the economic hardship caused by travel costs for staff coming from across the country.

The House referred the motion to the Committee on Education examinations board and basic education for further review.

NECO in its statement urged all of its staff who are due for promotion to take note of the development.

“With this development, all NECO Staff who are due for promotion this year, should note that the exercise has been put on hold indefinitely,” the statement.