Taraba Releases N1.3bn For 39,536 WAEC Candidates

The Taraba State Government has approved the release of over N1.3 billion for 39,536, as payment for the 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WAEC) registration fees.

The government also approved another N243.8 million for school feeding and students’ exchange programme across the state.

The State Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Dr. Augustina Godwin, disclosed this during the symbolic presentation of cheques at the WAEC office and Government Comprehensive Secondary School (GCSS), Jalingo.

Dr. Godwin, who gave the breakdown of the approvals said, the sum of N1,390,209,350 was earmarked for WAEC-related expenses, covering registration, Continuous Assessment Scores (CASS), administrative charges, practicals, monitoring, sensitization, remuneration, school albums, registration PINs and other logistics.

She said the intervention reflects Governor Agbu Kefas’s commitment to expanding access to quality education and ensuring that students participate in both internal and external examinations without financial constraints.

She added, the payment also includes accreditation fees for schools under WAEC, feeding arrangements for boarding students and transportation logistics for participants in the students’ exchange programme.

According to her, N148.6 million was approved for the feeding of students at GCSS Jalingo and Government Day Secondary School (MGDSS) Wukari on a termly basis.

She further disclosed that, the N52.75 million and N42.52 million were allocated for the transportation of indigenous and non-indigenous students, respectively, participating in the exchange programme across the 19 northern states.

The commissioner commended the governor for prioritising education and reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to transparency and accountability in the utilisation of public funds.

She noted that, the intervention complements other examination support initiatives, including NECO, NABTEB, BECE and mock examinations.

Receiving the cheque on behalf of the WAEC, the state Controller, Mr. Ogundele Agunbiade, praised the state government’s sustained support for education, particularly the provision of logistics such as utility vehicles to enhance the council’s operations.

Earlier, the permanent secretary in the ministry appreciated the governor’s timely intervention and urged students to reciprocate the gesture by excelling in their examinations.

The event was attended by education stakeholders, including officials of the Post Primary Schools Management Board, Mass Education and Library Board as well as directors from the ministry and its agencies.