The Federal Government of Nigeria has announced that underage candidates will no longer be permitted to take the secondary school leaving examinations conducted by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the National Examinations Council (NECO). This directive was revealed by the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, during an appearance on Channels Television’s “Sunday Politics” program.
Prof. Mamman emphasized that both WAEC and NECO must enforce an 18-year age limit for candidates sitting for the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and the Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE), respectively. He clarified that this measure is not a new policy but rather a reinforcement of existing regulations.
“The age requirement is 18 years,” the minister stated. He noted that during a meeting with the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) in July, it was decided that the 2024 examination cycle would serve as a transition period, allowing parents and students to adjust to the enforcement of the age limit. Beginning next year, JAMB will strictly adhere to the 18-year age requirement for university admissions in Nigeria.
Prof. Mamman explained that the policy is consistent with the natural progression through Nigeria’s education system, where students typically reach the age of 17 and a half by the time they are ready for tertiary education.
“Moving forward, NECO and WAEC will not permit underage students to sit for their examinations,” he added. “If a student has not completed the required number of years in their current level of study, WAEC and NECO will not allow them to take the exams.”
The minister also confirmed that the age limit for candidates taking the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), administered by JAMB, will remain at 18 years.