Akwa Ibom State Government has dismissed reports in the media that payment due the West African Examination Council for indigenous candidates who sat for the May/June 2018 examinations has not been made.

Speaking on the matter, the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Charles Udoh, explained that “the practice over the years has been that a down-payment of 40% of estimated total cost of WAEC fees is made before the commencement of the annual examination. The balance, according to him, “is usually paid after a reconciliation position is forwarded to the government by the body on conclusion of the examination.”

With the conclusion of the examination and a reconciliation position forwarded to the government, the commissioner said the balance payment had been remitted to WAEC. He therefore wondered why reports in the media tend to portray the state government in bad light over the matter.

He emphasised that “the administration of Governor Udom Emmanuel is committed to ensuring the success of the free and compulsory education programme in the state.”

This he said is underscored by the annual payment of WAEC fees for all candidates of Akwa Ibom State origin in public schools; massive construction and rehabilitation of school blocks and other facilities; regular payment of teachers’ salaries and entitlements; and release of subventions to heads of public secondary and primary schools, among other initiatives to strengthen the education sector.

Consequently, Mr. Udoh advised candidates who took the May/June 2018 WAEC and their parents not to be apprehensive, as he was sure the examination body will waste no time releasing the results since the balance payment had been made.