The 2023 Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has criticized President Bola Tinubu’s Federal Government for implementing an 18-year age limit on NECO and WAEC exams. Atiku described the policy as absurd and a significant barrier to accessing scholarships.
The Federal Government’s decision, announced by Minister of Education Prof. Tahir Mamman during an appearance on Channels Television’s *Sunday Politics*, mandates that candidates must be at least 18 years old to participate in the NECO (National Examination Council) and WAEC (West African Examinations Council) exams.
In response, Atiku Abubakar took to his verified Facebook page on Wednesday to denounce the policy. He labeled it as outdated and controversial, urging for universal condemnation from those who support intellectual freedom and equitable access to education.
He stated, “Tinubu’s policy on age limit for tertiary education admission belongs in the Stone Ages.
“The recent policy of the Federal Ministry of Education pegging age limits for entry to tertiary institutions is an absurdity and a disincentive to scholarship.
“The policy runs foul of the notion of delineation of responsibilities in a federal system of government such as we are practicing and gives a graphic impression of how the Tinubu government behaves like a lost sailor on a high sea.
“Otherwise, how is such anti-scholarship regulation the next logical step in the myriad of issues besetting our educational system?
“To be clear, the Nigerian constitution puts education in the concurrent list of schedules, in which the sub-national government enjoys more roles above the Federal Government.”
The former Vice President highlighted that the most effective global approach is to allow sub-national governments to establish their education laws or regulations.
Atiku continued, “Therefore, it is extra-constitutional for the federal government to legislate on education like a decree.
“The best global standard for such regulation is to allow the sub-national governments to make respective laws or rules on education.
“It is discouraging that even while announcing this obnoxious policy, the government inadvertently said it had no plan to cater to specially gifted pupils. That statement is an embarrassment to the body of intellectuals in the country because it portrays Nigeria as a country where gifted students are not appreciated.
“The irony here is that should the federal government play any role in education, it is to set up mechanisms that will identify and grant scholarships to gifted students not minding their ages before applying for admission into tertiary institutions.
“This controversial policy belongs in the Stone Ages and should be roundly condemned by everyone who believes in intellectual freedom and accessibility.”
