In a new directive, the Federal Government has barred anyone under 18 years old from taking the National Examinations Council (NECO) and West African Examinations Council (WAEC) exams.
Education Minister Prof. Tahir Mamman announced the decision during an appearance on Channels Television’s ‘Sunday Politics’ program.
He explained that both WAEC, which oversees the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), and NECO, which administers the Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE), have been instructed to enforce this age limit.
Mamman emphasised that the age requirement for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), managed by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), also remains set at 18 years.
Minimum Age For WAEC, NECO Exam
He noted that this year’s UTME would allow candidates younger than 18 as a transitional measure, but starting next year, JAMB will strictly adhere to the age requirement.
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“This policy isn’t new; it’s been in place for some time,” Mamman said.
He added that, considering the typical education path from early childhood through senior secondary school, students are usually around 17 and a half by the time they are ready for university.
Mamman clarified that the recent announcement serves to remind the public of existing regulations rather than introduce new ones.
Moving forward, NECO and WAEC will only permit candidates who meet the required age and have completed the appropriate number of schooling years to sit for their exams.
