Days after defending purchase of N160million SUVs, lawmakers reject motion to make WAEC, UTME free for all Nigerians, says it’s too costly and federal government cannot afford such additional expenses now.
The House of Representatives has rejected a motion that sought to compel the federal government to make the 2023/2024 secondary school examination free for all Nigerians.
The motion, moved by Anamero Dekeri, called on the federal government to make WAEC, NECO and JAMB free for this academic session, but the lawmakers kicked against it.
This motion is coming at a time when Nigerians are still condemning the action of lawmakers to spend billions on their official vehicles.
In the motion, Dekeri said the federal government already saved money through the removal of petroleum subsidy and should help families that are struggling.
The lawmaker said the Ministry of Education should make the examinations free.
“Urge the Ministry of Education to declare 2023 and 2024 WAEC, NECO and JAMB examinations registration free, to enable the common man have a direct benefit of fuel subsidy removal palliatives,” Dekeri’s prayer reads.
Following the presentation of the motion, it was met with stiff opposition from members of the House.
The Majority Leader, Julius Ihonvbere moved an amendment that lawmakers should instead fund the free examination. But the amendment was countered by Ado Doguwa, who said members are already paying the fees.
Following a long debate, Awaji Abiante moved a motion for the House to step it down, and it was adopted unanimously.
The chairman of the Senate Committee on Senate Services, Sunday Karimi, wondered why Nigerians were not talking about the ministers who ride about four official vehicles.
Somebody that is a minister has more than three Land Cruisers, Prado and other vehicles and you are not asking them questions, why us?
“These vehicles that you see, go to Nigeria roads today, if I go home once to my senatorial district, I come back spending a lot on my vehicles because our roads are bad.
“I said the decision that we took on using a Land Cruiser is for the cost and durability. Before they came up with this. It is not the decisions of the senators alone, we did an analysis before arriving at land cruisers.
“It was based on a comparative analysis of the cost of technical issues and durability on Nigeria roads.
“We want something that we can maintain for another four years and the issue of buying vehicles from the National Assembly, you know it is a recurring issue, it occurs every assembly; it will always come up.
“If you got to state houses of assembly today, check out most of them before they were even inaugurated, the governor would have bought vehicles waiting for them, even local government chairmen.
“I drove the vehicle my local government chairman uses, so why (question) the National Assembly?” Karimi asked.
