The President Muhammadu Buhari led government has approved a reduction in the cost of forms for the Joint Admissions and Matriculations Board (JAMB) Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), National Examinations Council (NECO), Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (SSCE) and the Basic Education Certificate Examination.

The reduction was first announced by President Muhammadu Buhari’s aide on new media, Bashir Ahmad, on Wednesday, November 28, 2018.

According to him, the decision was made at the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting.

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo presided over the meeting in the absence of Mr Buhari who travelled on official assignment to Borno State.

The cost of Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) forms was reduced from N5,000 to N3,500 while the cost of National Examination Council (NECO) forms was reduced from N11,350 to N9,850.

The cost of Basic Education Certificate, also handled by NECO, was also reduced from N5,500 to N4,000.

The reduction takes effect from January 2019.

FEC also approved N14.7 billion, to be funded by the contractor, for new Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, travel certificates.

The new certificate will now carry security features like the picture and fingerprints of the holder.