Nigerian govt suspends proposed N50,000 WAEC, NECO registration fee hike

The Federal Government has suspended 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) after widespread public criticism.

The announcement was made in a statement issued on Monday by the Federal Ministry of Education, which confirmed that the June 18, 2026 letter introducing the planned fee hike had been withdrawn.

According to the statement signed by the ministry’s Director of Press and Public Relations, Folasade Boriowo, the withdrawal is intended to pave the way for wider consultations and a detailed review before any final decision is made.

“The Federal Ministry of Education announced that the letter conveying the proposed fee adjustment, dated 18 June 2026, has been withdrawn to allow for a comprehensive review and broader consultations with all relevant stakeholders before a final decision is taken.”

The now-suspended proposal sought to raise the registration fee for both WAEC and NECO examinations from N27,500 to N50,000 starting in 2027, representing an 82 per cent increase.

The ministry explained that the proposed adjustment was driven by the increasing cost of organising public examinations nationwide. It noted that examination fees have remained relatively stable for years despite soaring operational expenses.

It added that rising costs associated with logistics, security, printing of examination materials, technology deployment, quality assurance and other essential services have placed mounting financial pressure on examination bodies.

The statement further revealed that Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Tunji Alausa, directed that the proposal be suspended until extensive consultations are completed.

“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.”

The ministry emphasised that no increase in examination fees will be implemented until all stakeholder engagements have been concluded.

It said the consultation process will involve examination bodies, state ministries of education, school owners and administrators, parents’ associations, organised labour, education experts and other relevant stakeholders.

The Federal Government reiterated that policies affecting students and their families must undergo thorough consultation and reflect the public interest before implementation.

The ministry also reaffirmed its commitment to protecting students’ welfare, promoting equitable access to quality education and ensuring responsible policymaking, while promising to keep Nigerians updated throughout the review process.