NECO to introduce CCTV cameras in exam halls

...as ICPC set to prosecute NECO staff over fake certificates

By Bartholomew Madukwe

In line with tackling the menace of examination malpractice, the National Examination Council, NECO, would soon introduce Closed Circuit Television, CCTV, cameras in examination halls across Nigeria.

Disclosing this on Tuesday in a statement, Registrar of NECO, Professor Godswill Obioma, explained out that the CCTV was the new technology-based approach soon to be deployed by the Council to improve its general operations and reduce corrupt tendencies within the agency.

This was as the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), expressed readiness to prosecute some staff of NECO for allegedly possessing fake certificates.

According to a statement authorised by the ICPC spokesperson, Mrs Azuka Ogugua, the move followed a request by the NECO Registrar to prosecute the affected staff after its governing council, through a staff verification exercise, discovered that some staff were working in the agency with fake certificates.

It was gathered that NECO Registrar, at a meeting with ICPC Chairman, Professor Bolaji Owasanoye, and other top management staff of the commission, urged the commission to act on the report of the verification exercise that was submitted to them. 

The statement quoted Professor Obioma to have said  he wanted ICPC to do justice to the report especially those culpable for prosecution.

"Professor Obioma also sought for the assistance of the commission in combating the menace of examination malpractices. He observed that a prior collaboration with ICPC in tackling examination malpractice had yielded positive results, adding that the continuous partnerships with the commission against corruption would give credibility to NECO examinations and processes," the statement asserted.

ICPC Chairman noted that the issue of fake certificates was becoming widespread with so many ‘special centres’ for passing examinations.

He said the commission was willing to assist NECO in tackling corruption in the education sector, adding that the prevalence of fake certificates in the work-place was affecting quality service delivery.

The statement added: “We are quite delighted that you are focused on dealing with corruption in the education sector. The issue of the fake certificate is pandemic and deeply rooted and this partially explains the struggle by government agencies to do well."