NECO: Wushishi’s ‘e-Very,’ Other Strides Excite Stakeholders

The Registrar/Chief Executive of the National Examination Council (NECO), Prof. Dantani Wushishi, has been hailed for the introduction of e-Verify’ portal for online confirmation of results and other transformation going on at the Council.

In separate interviews with LEADERSHIP, they commended the Registrar, saying that the platform will ease the verification of results, and checkmate manipulation and falsification of results of examinations conducted by the Council.

LEADERSHIP reports that on assumption of office on 26th July, 2021, Wushishi undertook a critical assessment of the activities of NECO and initiated policies that have brought about positive turnaround of the Council.

On of such was the introduction of ‘NECO e-Verify,’ an online result verification solution that guarantees instant authentication of academic and basic information about prospective candidates.

Specifically, the stakeholders commended the Registrar for NECO Warehouse and the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Department, which has been extended to Niger State NECO Office, in addition to a brand new 500 KVA transformer in both ICT Department and the Niger State Office to address their problem of lack of electricity which has been on since 2017, which has given NECO a new look.

It will be recalled that since taking over as NECO registrar, Wushishi has initiated a transformation agenda of the Council which has changed the Council’s Headquarters in Minna, which hitherto was like a dungeon, is now a sight to behold at night, as it is now well lit.

Conscious of the fact that a conducive working environment is a veritable incentive that contributes in no small measure to the output of workers, the Registrar recently approved the Procurement of 2,705 Chairs for use by Staff.

This was in fulfillment of his promise to Staff during an interface with them that their challenges have been noted and action would soon follow to alleviate their plight. This purchase is indeed regarded as the first phase of action in this direction.

In response to the realities of the 21st Century where technology is key, the Registrar/CE has caused the provision of internet facilities at the Headquarters.

A massive mast has been installed pursuant to making internet facilities easily accessible in the Council.

This provision, Professor Wushishi has assured, would soon be extended to all the State Offices across the Country. This was equally extended to ICT Department, NECO Staff School and Niger State.

Stakeholders have furthermore commended Wushishi’s transformation, which also ensured that the 2023 SSCE NECO Internal has been certified the best in recent times.

An educationist, Julius Humbe said the upgrade of the Six Zonal Offices of the Council located in the North-East; North-West; North-Central; South-East; South-South; and the South-West hitherto headed by Zonal Coordinators, which have all been upgraded to Directorates with a Director appointed to superintend each of them has ease the operations of the Council.

Humbe said the upgrade has given rise to expansion in the system with each Zone having four Divisions headed by Deputy and Assistant Directors.

“This expansion has, no doubt, opened up the space for higher responsibilities and provided more hands to be part of the Management process, making it more expansive and robust in scope.”

On welfare, he said the retirement benefit package took effect from January, 2022 and an Insurance policy for all Staff is a welcome development.

The benefits of both welfare packages are legion, considering the delays in accessing pension and gratuity upon retirement from service and the risks and hazards associated with NECO work, according to stakeholders.

A parent, Uge Benjamin commended the Council for successfully pursuing and securing intervention fund from the Federal Government to settle examiners, supervisors and other ad-hoc staff that participated in the 2021 SSCE Internal examination and successful conduct of October 2021 and 2022 edition of Accreditation and Re-accreditation of schools for BECE and SSCE respectively as well as that of the March and October 2022 Edition.

The Council under Wushishi has also provided an e-library to enhance access to information and data on educational assessment with a view to enhancing job efficiency in Test Development, Quality Assurance and curbing examination malpractice and other infractions associated with public examinations in 2022.

Similarly, it introduced the use of stanine software in determining Grade Boundaries for BECE, SSCE Internal and SSCE External examinations which is an innovation in the history of NECO. This brings to rest the use of manual methods in determining grade boundaries in 2022, amongst others.

Also, for the first time, the welfare package instituted by the Registrar/CE in 2021 for retiring staff has been implemented through payment of retirees of the year 2022 1st and 2nd quarters their welfare entitlements.