Bago, House Leader, Others Demand Review of Existing NECO Laws

Kuni Tyessi in Abuja

Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umar Bago, and the the Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, Prof Julius Ihonvbere, have demanded a review of existing laws governing the National Examination Council (NECO).

Bago stated that artificial intelligence has come to stay, thereby making it imperative that laws must also be able to key into this technological advancements.

The review, according to them, would instigate reforms that reflect the technological advancements and evolving needs of the educational landscape.

They made the call during a one day retreat by NECO titled: “Legislative Functions: The Imperatives of Achieving NECO’s Mandate and the Challenges of Examination Legislation in Nigeria,” held in Abuja on Monday.

Bago, who was the chairman of the occasion, said it was important to look into the existing laws that guided NECO in the conduct of its various examinations to address issues of artificial intelligence.

“This retreat is very timely and I’m very impressed that the members of National assembly are fully represented looking at what forward for examination bodies like NECO in terms of innovation, the Imperative of changing or amending our laws to be in tandem with technology, time and innovation.”

Minister of state for education, Sununu Tanko, represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Didi Esther Walson-Jack, urged participants to actively engaged in the discussions to enable NECO effectively achieve its mandate.

“NECO plays an indispensable role in ensuring the sustainable management of our educational landscape,” Walson-Jack said.