FG Approves Scrapping Of UTME, NECO, Others?

 

Stephen Osagiede Oronsaye

Now there won't be NECO (National Examination Council), UTME (Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination), NAPEP (National Poverty Eradication Programme) among others, as The Federal Government of Nigeria resolved to scrap some of its agencies in line with the recommendations of the Stephen Oronsaye-led Presidential Committee on the Rationalization and Restructuring of Federal Government Parastatals, Commissions and Agencies following its completion of study of its White Paper Committee.

According to reliable news agencies, the committee had recommended the abolition of 38 agencies, the merger of 52 and the reversion of 14 to departments  in the ministries from  which they were carved out, a move the committee argued would save more than N862 billion between 2012 and 2015 if the government carried out what the panel has proposed.

The Public Complaints Commission is to be merged with the Human Rights Commission just as NAPEP will also be scrapped to be replaced with National Agency for Job Creation and Empowerment.

JAMB will however not be scrapped but serve as a clearing house, setting the standard alongside the schools' authorities, sources revealed.

With the scrapping of the UTME, individual universities in the country would conduct their own admission examinations and admit students while the Joint Admission and Matriculation and Board will set and ensure compliance to standards as it acts as the clearing house. 

The Oronsaye-led Presidential Committee on the Rationalization made far-reaching recommendations which it explained were aimed at helping the government to effect a drastic reduction in  the size of its bloated bureaucracy, eliminating  duplication of functions and bringing down  the cost of governance. 

Culled