From Victor Osula, Abuja
The Federal Government has yielded to widespread condemnation of its proposed increase in registration fees for the 2027 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and the National Examinations Council (NECO) Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE). It announced a suspension.
The decision, announced on Monday by the Federal Ministry of Education, effectively halts the planned fee review pending fresh consultations with education stakeholders, following widespread public concern over the proposed increase.
Director of Press and Public Relations, Mrs Boriowo Folasade, the ministry, said the letter dated June 18, 2026, which communicated the proposed fee adjustment, had been withdrawn to pave the way for a comprehensive review before any final decision is taken.
The development marks a reversal of the government’s earlier position, under which WAEC and NECO registration fees for school candidates were to be harmonised at ₦50,000 from the 2027 examination cycle. The proposed increase would have raised WAEC’s registration fee from about ₦27,500 and NECO’s from ₦30,000.
According to the ministry, the suspension followed concerns and constructive feedback from Nigerians after details of the proposed increase became public.
“The Ministry acknowledges the concerns and constructive feedback received from the public and appreciates the keen interest shown by Nigerians in matters relating to access to quality education”, the statement read.
The ministry explained that the proposed upward review was informed by prevailing economic realities and the rising cost of organising credible national examinations across the country.
It noted that examination registration fees have remained largely unchanged for several years despite sharp increases in the cost of logistics, security, printing of examination materials, technology deployment, quality assurance and other services required to maintain the integrity of public examinations.
The statement, however, said the Minister of Education, Maruf Tunji Alausa, had directed that the proposal be put on hold in keeping with the Federal Government’s commitment to inclusive, transparent and evidence-based policymaking.
“Nevertheless, the Honourable Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Tunji Alausa, CON, has directed that the proposal be placed on hold in line with the Federal Government’s commitment to inclusive, transparent and evidence-based policymaking”, it stated.
The ministry said the decision underscores its resolve to ensure that policies affecting millions of students and their families are carefully considered and reflect the collective interest of Nigerians.
As part of the review process, the ministry said it would hold extensive consultations with the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), the National Examinations Council (NECO), State Ministries of Education, school proprietors and administrators, parents’ associations, organised labour and other education stakeholders.
It said the consultations are expected to produce a framework that is fair, transparent, financially sustainable and responsive to prevailing economic conditions, while ensuring that access to secondary education examinations is not undermined.
“Accordingly, the proposed review of examination registration fees will not take effect, as earlier communicated, pending the conclusion of the consultation process”, the ministry stated.
The Federal Ministry of Education also reiterated that the welfare of students, equitable access to quality education and responsible policy decisions remain central to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda for the education sector.
The ministry thanked parents, students, school owners and other stakeholders for their understanding and support, assuring Nigerians that the public would be kept informed throughout the consultation process.
The suspension comes amid concerns that the proposed increase could place an additional financial burden on millions of households and state governments that sponsor candidates for the examinations. Several states currently pay WAEC registration fees for students in public secondary schools, while parents in many parts of the country bear the cost of NECO registration. Education stakeholders had warned that implementing the new fee could increase the number of candidates unable to register for the examinations because of financial constraints, prompting calls for the government to reconsider the proposal.
