The House of Representatives has urged states that owe the West African Examination Council to pay their debts to enable the council meet its financial obligations.

The federal lawmakers also directed the yet to be constituted Committee on Education to intervene in the matter, to avoid the threat by WAEC to withhold results of candidates in the affected states.

West Africa Examination Council had announced earlier in the week that nineteen states of the federation are owing the council about four billion naira.

The Head of the Nigerian National Office of WAEC told journalists in Lagos on Monday that May-June WASSCE results of the affected states would not be released along with others in two weeks time.

The Chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum, Governor ABDULAZEEZ YARI of Zamfara State, has attributed the current face-off between some states and the West African Examination Council to the inability of the state Governments to ascertain the total amount of money involved in the matter.

Governor YARI, whose State is also involved in the matter, said there is a mix up in the situation, adding that there was need for some of the affected states to verify the figure before payment.

He also wondered how some states that have been unable to pay workers’ salaries, would the pay WAEC fees for their students. 

The governor said discussions would be held with WAEC with a view to resolving the problem.