The Forum of South-East Academic Doctors (FOSAD) strongly condemns the unlawful charging and extortion of ₦130,000 described as “WAEC revalidation fees” by the Imo State Ministry of Education under the leadership of the Honourable Commissioner for Education, Prof. B.T.O. Ikegwuoha.
FOSAD finds this practice not only illegal and exploitative but also a gross abuse of authority that places an unjustifiable financial burden on public and private secondary schools, parents, and students across Imo State.
Our investigations reveal that both public and private secondary schools in Imo State are being compelled to pay a ₦130,000 revalidation fee to the Ministry of Education as a precondition for their students to sit for the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), conducted by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC). WAEC is a regional examination body established by international treaty, and its operations, accreditation, and examination processes are entirely independent of state ministries of education.
FOSAD emphasizes that the Imo State Ministry of Education has no legal or administrative mandate to impose any form of “revalidation” fee on schools in relation to WAEC examinations. There is no provision in Nigerian law or WAEC regulations that authorizes such charges by any state government or ministry. The imposition of this fee is therefore arbitrary, unlawful, and a clear case of institutional extortion.
Disturbingly, this practice is reportedly unique to Imo State. No other state in the South-East or elsewhere in Nigeria has introduced or enforced such a fee, further underscoring its illegality and raising serious questions about its justification and purpose.
The consequences of this illegal policy are already being felt by ordinary citizens. Public secondary schools, which are already underfunded, have been forced to pass on the burden to students by surcharging each candidate ₦2,000. In addition, an extra ₦500 is being imposed on students under the guise of “security during the examination.” These charges, when combined with existing economic hardships, are pushing education further out of reach for many families.
FOSAD views this development as a direct assault on the right to education and a dangerous precedent that commodifies access to public examinations. It disproportionately affects children from low-income households and places unnecessary strain on parents, guardians, and private school proprietors who are already grappling with rising operational costs.
We are particularly concerned that this policy undermines public confidence in the education system and portrays Imo State as a hostile environment for learning, academic integrity, and institutional accountability.
In light of the foregoing, the Forum of South-East Academic Doctors calls on His Excellency, Senator Hope Uzodimma, the Governor of Imo State, to urgently intervene and put an immediate stop to the collection of this illegal WAEC revalidation fee. We urge the Governor to direct the Ministry of Education to refund all monies already collected from schools and to desist from any further interference in the affairs of WAEC.
FOSAD also calls on relevant anti-corruption and oversight bodies to investigate this matter thoroughly and ensure that those responsible are held accountable in accordance with the law.
Education is a public good and a fundamental right, not a revenue stream for illegal levies. Imo State must not be allowed to continue on this path of administrative exploitation at the expense of its children and their future.
Signed,
Dr. Stephen Nwala
President
Forum of South-East Academic Doctors (FOSAD)
Dr. Uzor Ngoladi
Secretary General
Forum of South-East Academic Doctors (FOSAD)
