Janet Samuel, Abuja
Education Stakeholders have demanded for a review in the current education legislations to meet the present technological advancements globally
Speaking at a one day retreat organised by the National Examinations Council NECO with a theme “Legislative Functions: The Imperatives of Achieving NECO’s Mandate and the Challenges of Examination Legislation in Nigeria,” in Abuja on Monday, the Governor of Niger state who was the chairman of the occasion said it has become imperative to look into the existing laws that guides NECO in the conduct of its various examinations to address issues of artificial intelligence.
Gov. Bago noted that the retreat came up at an appropriate time where ammendment is required to meet up with the technological innovation in the education sector
“Atificial intelligence has come to stay so our law must also be able to key into this technological advancements. So this retreat is timely.”
He said “I only call on NECO and stakeholders to expand it beyond this hall so that other stakeholders will have input and also be able to come out with a robust policy and laws in order to be sent to national assembly,” the governor said.
Also speaking, the Minister of State for Education, Tanko Sununu, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Education Ministry, Esther Walson-Jack said the effectiveness of NECO’s operations is elaboratively linked to the legislative environment in which it operates.
While emphasizing on the role NECO plays in ensuring the sustainable management of the country’s educational landscape, the Minister said that the challenges confronting the sector cannot be neglected.
He said the outdated examination laws that poses challenges to the sector calls for urgent review to address the issues.
Earlier in his welcone address, the Registrar/Chief Executive of NECO, Professor Ibrahim Dantani Wushishi, said the challenges in fulfilling NECO’s mandate highlight the critical need for a robust legislative framework.
Speaking on the infrastructure, the Registrar said adequate funding is required to achieve a higher hieght in meeting up with the current educational challenges, calling for a review of the existing laws of the Council.
“Conducting nationwide examination necessitate a strong infrastructure, we need more resources to establish and maintain secure examination centers and implement cutting edge technological centers”
Several contributions on the theme from the National Assembly members at the event, include, House Majority Leader, Julius Ihonvbere, Senate Minority leader, Senator Abba Moro and Deputy House leader, Hon. Abdullahi Ibrahim Halims representing Ankpa/Omala/Olamaboro Constituency among others, with Senators Orji Uzor Kalu, Gbenga Daniel and Osita Izunaso among others in attendance.
