The Federal Government has suspended the proposed upward review of registration fees for the 2027 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and the National Examinations Council (NECO) Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE), following widespread public criticism and calls for a reversal of the policy.
The Federal Ministry of Education announced the decision on Monday, July 13, 2026, stating that the letter dated June 18, 2026, which conveyed the proposed fee adjustment, had been formally withdrawn pending broader consultations with key stakeholders.
According to the ministry’s Director of Press and Public Relations, Boriowo Folasade, the suspension was approved by the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, in line with the Federal Government’s commitment to inclusive, transparent and evidence-based policymaking.
The ministry explained that the proposed increase was driven by rising operational costs associated with conducting credible national examinations, including logistics, security, printing of examination materials, deployment of technology and quality assurance.
However, it acknowledged the concerns expressed by Nigerians and said no final decision would be taken until extensive consultations had been concluded.
The proposed increase was formally made public over the weekend after a Federal Ministry of Education memo dated June 18, 2026, surfaced, approving a uniform registration fee of ₦50,000 for both WAEC and NECO examinations beginning from the 2027 examination cycle.
The proposal would have increased WAEC registration from about ₦27,000–₦27,500 and NECO from ₦30,000 to ₦50,000 per candidate.
The announcement triggered widespread condemnation across the country.
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) rejected the proposed increase, describing it as insensitive to the prevailing economic hardship facing Nigerian families.
In a statement signed by its President, Akinteye Babatunde Afeez, the association demanded an immediate reversal of the decision, warning that students intending to sit both WAEC and NECO examinations could face examination-related expenses exceeding ₦100,000 excluding school charges.
Other stakeholders, including the National Parent Teacher Association of Nigeria (NAPTAN), the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), civil society organisations and education advocates, also criticised the proposal, arguing that the increase would worsen the financial burden on parents and could further increase the number of out-of-school children.
The Ministry of Education said it will now engage examination bodies, state ministries of education, school proprietors, parents’ associations, organised labour and other stakeholders before arriving at any future decision on examination fees.
It assured Nigerians that the proposed increase will not take effect until the consultation process is completed and a final policy decision is reached, reaffirming the government’s commitment to ensuring that access to education remains affordable while maintaining the integrity of public examinations.
