Atiku Abubakar, di Peoples Democratic Party 2023 presidential candidate, don attack President Bola Tinubu Federal Government for putting 18-year-old age limit on NECO and WAEC exams, say e dey prevent students from applying for scholarships.
Dem don talk say nobody wey dey below eighteen years fit take WAEC and NECO exams. Prof. Tahir Mamman, di Minister of Education, na im first talk dis one while e dey for Channels Television “Sunday Politics” show.
Mamman talk say to fit take WAEC or NECO exams, candidates need to dey at least 18 years old. Na federal government give dis order.
Former vice president Atiku don come out for him verified Facebook page criticize di policy say e dey outdated.
Atiku talk say di policy na nonsense and e dey divide people. E don ask make everybody wey respect education and intellectual freedom condemn di policy.
Atiku talk say, “Tinubu’s policy on age limit for tertiary education admission na something wey belong to Stone Ages. Di new policy wey di Federal Ministry of Education don bring come put age limit for entry into tertiary institutions na rubbish and e dey discourage scholarship.
Di policy dey clash with di idea of how responsibility suppose dey divided for federal system wey we dey use, and e dey show how Tinubu government dey behave like sailor wey don lost for high sea.
“How e take be say such anti-scholarship policy na di next step for di plenty wahala wey dey affect our education system?
“To be clear, di Nigerian constitution put education for di concurrent list, wey di sub-national government get more role pass di Federal Government.”
Atiku don stress say make di sub-national governments fit pass their own laws or regulations for education.
Atiku continue, “So, na extra-constitutional for di federal government to make laws on education like decree. Di best global standard na to allow di sub-national governments to pass their own laws or rules for education.
“It dey disappointing say while dem dey announce dis bad policy, di government talk say dem no get plan to help specially gifted pupils. Dat statement na embarrassment to di intellectuals for di country because e dey show Nigeria as country wey no value gifted students.
“Di irony be say if di federal government go fit do anything for education, na to set up ways to identify and give scholarships to gifted students no matter di age before dem apply for tertiary institutions.
“This controversial policy na Stone Ages material and everybody wey believe in intellectual freedom and accessibility suppose condemn am.”
