By Milcah Tanimu

Atiku Abubakar, the 2023 Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has criticized the Federal Government’s decision to set an 18-year age limit for participation in NECO and WAEC exams, describing it as “absurd” and detrimental to scholarship opportunities.

The new policy, introduced by President Bola Tinubu’s administration, prohibits individuals below 18 from sitting for the National Examination Council (NECO) and the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE). This was confirmed by the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, during an appearance on Channels Television’s ‘Sunday Politics’ program. Mamman stated that the government has instructed WAEC and NECO to enforce the age requirement.

In response, Atiku Abubakar took to his verified Facebook page to condemn the policy as “outdated,” calling for a universal outcry against what he described as a “disincentive to scholarship.”

“Tinubu’s policy on age limit for tertiary education admission belongs in the Stone Ages,” Atiku wrote. “The recent policy of the Federal Ministry of Education pegging age limits for entry to tertiary institutions is an absurdity and a disincentive to scholarship.”

He further argued that the policy undermines the concept of federalism by encroaching on responsibilities that should be handled at the sub-national level. “The Nigerian constitution places education on the concurrent list, allowing state governments to play more prominent roles than the Federal Government,” he noted.

Atiku criticized the government for ignoring specially gifted pupils, stating, “It is discouraging that even while announcing this obnoxious policy, the government inadvertently said it had no plan to cater to specially gifted pupils. That statement is an embarrassment to the body of intellectuals in the country because it portrays Nigeria as a country where gifted students are not appreciated.”

He concluded by urging that the policy be condemned by all who value intellectual freedom and accessibility, arguing that the federal government should focus on identifying and supporting gifted students, regardless of their age, rather than enforcing restrictive age limits.

Atiku’s statements have sparked a broader debate on the federal government’s role in education policy and the need for a more flexible approach that accommodates all learners.