By Muhammad Ibrahim, Sokoto
……as Sokoto government blocks external candidates
All students under the state government are to be issued with identification cards as reached during the executive council meeting held on Friday.
Briefing newsmen on the outcome of the meeting, the Commissioner, Basic and Secondary Education, Muhammad Tukur Alkali explained that, the decision was necessary because the state was spending a lot on Senior Secondary School Examinations.
“Last year alone, we spent one billion Naira on NECO and WAEC for our students.
“And this year we are anticipating 33,000 candidates and with the current increment in registration fees by WAEC and NECO we will spend about N1.9 billion,” he said
According to Arkali, some principals and examination officers use to enlist external candidates, thus adding more burden on the state government.
“So the identification cards are to check their excesses. We can now know the exact number of our students, especially those that will sit for SSCE,” he noted.
Meanwhile, the state has approved the purchase of 1000 motorcycles and 500 tricycles for youth empowerment.
The council also approved the construction of water ways at Tudun Wada cemetery and renovation of Hajj Camp which it named after Senator Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko, the former Governor of the state.
It also approved the amendment of four laws, including Zakkat and Endowment Commission law, Arabic and Islamic Board Law, Prohibition of discrimination People With Disability Law and Tenancy control Law.
