Govt officials, school principals say Kwara governor Abdulrazaq lied about paying exam fees for 55,500 students
In his 2025 budget speech, Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq of Kwara State claimed that his administration had paid the examination fees for 55,500 students, including those taking the WAEC (West African Examinations Council) and NECO (National Examinations Council) exams.
This assertion was met with immediate backlash from various stakeholders, including government officials, school principals, and parents in Kwara State who have publicly denied it.
Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq’s claim
During the budget presentation, Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq highlighted several achievements of his administration in the previous fiscal year. Among these was the assertion that financial support had been provided to a significant number of Kwara State students for their examination fees. Specifically, he mentioned funding for 66,000 entrance exam candidates, 58,420 BECE (Basic Education Certificate Examination) candidates, 28,500 WAEC candidates and 27,000 NECO candidates
Additionally, he claimed that over 70,000 vulnerable households received support during this period.
Reactions
Following his speech, senior officials within the Kwara State government house expressed skepticism about these claims. They characterized them as exaggerated or outright falsehoods intended to bolster the governor’s image.
One official noted that such a large-scale financial gesture would typically be accompanied by public acknowledgment or publicity—something that was notably absent.
Principals from Kwara State public secondary schools also refuted the governor’s statements. They reported no knowledge of any payments made on behalf of students for their examination fees. For instance, one principal stated they were unaware of any such funding and learned about it only through media reports.
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Another principal mentioned that while some individual politicians had assisted a small number of students with their fees, there was no state-sponsored initiative to cover exam costs.
Parents echoed these sentiments during a radio program where they shared their experiences of having to pay for their children’s exam fees themselves.
Clarification
In response to growing concerns and confusion surrounding the governor’s claims, Sa’adatu Moddibo Kawu, Kwara State Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development, issued a statement clarifying that what was actually funded by the state government were activities related to entrance examinations and subsidies for junior secondary school assessments—not direct payments for WAEC or NECO exams. The ministry acknowledged a “mixup” in communication regarding these claims.
The statement emphasized that parents were still responsible for covering examination fees for their children and sought to clarify any misconceptions stemming from the governor’s remarks.
This incident raises questions about transparency and accountability within Governor Abdulrazaq’s administration.
The discrepancies between his claims and those reported by educational stakeholders suggest potential issues with financial reporting and governance practices in Kwara State.
Furthermore, it highlights an urgent need for independent verification processes regarding government assertions related to public finance.
The controversy has sparked debates among opposition figures who are using this opportunity to criticize what they perceive as mismanagement within the state government. The lack of prompt clarification following such bold claims indicates possible lapses in due diligence on part of both the governor’s office and relevant ministries.
