Cross River Gov’t Foots N339.9m WAEC Bill for 12,589 Students

By Ebi COLLINS 

Governor Bassey Edet Otu’s administration has approved the release of ₦339,903,000 to cover the registration fees of 12,589 indigenous students for the 2026 West African Examinations Council (WAEC).

The approval was part of resolutions reached at the first Executive Council (EXCO) meeting of 2026, held at the State Executive Council Chamber, Governor’s Office, Calabar.

The funding aims to ease the financial burden on families and ensure that all eligible students, particularly those from underserved communities, can sit for the crucial secondary school examination.

The initiative reflects the government’s commitment to human capital development under the “People First” agenda and underscores its focus on expanding educational opportunities across the state.

By covering the WAEC registration fees, the administration hopes to increase examination participation, strengthen school retention, and improve academic outcomes for students across Cross River.