By RismadarVoice Media
January 2, 2026
The Gombe State Executive Council has approved the sum of ₦661,557,121 for the payment of Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (SSCE) fees for 23,873 students across the state.
The Commissioner for Education, Dr Aishatu Maigari, disclosed this to journalists on Thursday after the 51st State Executive Council meeting presided over by Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya.
Maigari said the beneficiaries were selected from a mock examination conducted for 26,857 candidates, noting that 88 per cent of the students scored 50 per cent and above, making them eligible for government-sponsored examination support.
“Council approved the sum of ₦661,557,121 for the payment of Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (SSCE) fees for 23,873 students across the state,” she said.
She provided a breakdown of the beneficiaries, stating that 21,909 students would sit for the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), 1,431 for the National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB), while 297 candidates would be presented for the National Board for Arabic and Islamic Studies (NBAIS).
According to the commissioner, the list also includes 183 non-indigene students on exchange programmes in the state and 53 students living with special needs, a move she said underscores the inclusive education policy of the Yahaya administration.
“This reflects the inclusive nature of Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya’s administration,” Maigari added.
She further explained that the funding would be jointly provided by the state government and the 11 local government councils in a 60–40 cost-sharing arrangement, respectively.
Maigari said the intervention is part of the state government’s strategy to remove financial barriers to education, improve students’ academic performance, and position Gombe State as a leading centre of learning in the North-East.
