By Felix Khanoba
The National Examinations Council (NECO) says it will need more support from the Department of State Services (DSS) to enhance its fight against examination malpractices.
Chairman, Governing Board of NECO, Dr. Abubakar Saddique, who stated this when he led management team of the exam body on a courtesy visit to DSS in Abuja, called for a robust collaboration between the two organisations.
A statement made available to newsmen on Thursday in Abuja by Azeez Sani, Head,Information and Public Relations of NECO, said Sadique posited that such collaboration would boost the credibility of the Council’s examination.
The NECO’s board chairman explained that the Council has put in place measures aimed at checking examination malpractice, but noted that without adequate security architecture, such measures would not yield the desired results.
While listing steps so far taken to tackle exam malpractice to include biometric capturing of candidates to check impersonation at exam centres, the chairman appealed to the personnel of DSS to strengthen their collaboration with NECO to prevent any form of malpractice before, during and after the conduct of the Council examination.
On his part, acting Registrar/Chief Executive of NECO, Mr. Abubakar Mohammed Gana, enumerated some reforms introduced under his leadership in the Council to include the development of intractable, robust, secure and user-friendly corporate website.
Others are introduction of full-scale biometric capturing of candidates at examination centres, procurement of additional 20 pick-up Hilux Vans for examination logistics and full payment of Duty Tour Allowance to staff among others.
Gana noted that NECO has enjoyed the full support and cooperation of DSS through the provision of covert operations which had helped in reducing incidence of examination malpractice.
The acting registrar, however, sought for the collaboration of DSS in building an intractable open and secure filing system for the Council to prevent possible incidence of tempering with staff records, especially in the face of the on-going staff certificate verification exercise.
Gana appealed to the Director-General to ensure that fraudsters who attempt to compromise NECO examinations are not only arrested and investigated, but prosecuted to serve as a deterrent to others.
Responding, Director-General of DSS, Mr. Yusuf Bichi, pledged the continued support of his Department in ensuring the credibility of NECO examinations.
