#EndSARS Protests: NECO Postpones Exams Indefinitely

Following the ugly developments associated with the #EndSARS protests, the National Examination Council has directed the “indefinite postponement of the 2020 On-going Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (Internal).”

Head of Information and Public Relations Division, NECO, Azeez Sani, made this known in a press release on Sunday.

NECO observed that it was not safe to continue with the examinations for now.

It stressed that the disruptions ranging from security risks and curfew in various states made it uneasy for candidates to sit for the remaining examinations.

But, it assured that the directive would be reviewed when normalcy returned.

The full statement reads:

“The Governing Board of the National Examinations Council (NECO) at its Special Meeting held on Thursday, 22nd October, 2020 reviewed the on-going 2020 SSCE(Internal) nationwide.

“The Council had in a press release, dated 21st October 2020, informed the general public of rescheduling some papers of the 2020 on-going SSCE.

“Arising from that meeting, the Governing Board resolved that the 2020 SSCE(Internal) be postponed indefinitely in view of the current security challenges, occasioned by the ENDSARS protests, which disrupted the smooth conduct of the examinations in some parts of the country.

“In making this decision, the Board noted that due to these security challenges: Some state governments imposed curfew and closed schools in order to safeguard lives and property,

“In the circumstances, it has become difficult for the Council move examination materials across the country; Students in the affected locations were unable to sit for the papers already scheduled in the examination time table.

“The Governing Board further resolved, that when normalcy returns, the Council will continue with the conduct of the examinations in all States.

“While regretting any inconveniences this postponement may cause our esteemed stakeholders, the Council has however taken this decision in order to maintain the integrity and security of its examination procedures for seamless conduct of the Council’s examination.”