In a major step towards reviving education in Zamfara State, Governor Dauda Lawal has successfully cleared all outstanding debts owed to WAEC and NECO by previous administrations—leading to the long-awaited release of withheld exam results for thousands of students.
The backlog, which dates as far back as 2014 for NECO and 2018 for WAEC, had prevented many students from accessing their results, stalling their academic and career progress. Governor Lawal’s intervention is part of his broader strategy following the declaration of a state of emergency on education in November 2023.
According to Sulaiman Bala Idris, spokesperson for the governor, the exam bodies have now released all withheld results from 2018 to 2022. He noted:
“In his commitment to overhauling the educational sector of Zamfara State, Governor Dauda Lawal has settled all backlog of payments owed by previous administrations in the state.”
The statement also explained that years of unpaid examination fees significantly impacted public schools, contributing to Zamfara’s low educational performance across the country. Since the emergency declaration, over 500 public schools have been renovated and equipped, while teachers have undergone continuous training.
Governor Lawal has now paid WAEC the outstanding sum of ₦1.4 billion for 2018 to 2022. The last administration’s failure to pay for the 2023 exams meant that no public school in the state participated, but payment has already been made for 2024, and students have sat for their exams.
On the NECO front, the government cleared ₦320.7 million owed from 2020 to 2021. Additionally, the ₦1.022 billion owed for 2014–2018, which led to withheld results, is now being addressed. An agreement has been reached with NECO for a phased release of the affected results, beginning with the first batch of payments.
This move offers a fresh start for many Zamfara students who were stuck in academic limbo, and it marks a turning point in the state’s educational trajectory.
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