FG suspends planned hike in WAEC, NECO registration fees
By Uji A Iliyasu Abuja
The Federal Government has suspended a 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), following public outcry over the planned adjustment.
The Federal Ministry of Education, in a statement issued by its Director of Press and Public Relations, Boriowo Folasade, said the letter conveying the proposed fee review, dated 18 June 2026, had been withdrawn to allow for broader consultations with stakeholders before any final decision is taken.
According to the statement, the Ministry acknowledged the concerns and feedback received from the public and commended the interest shown by Nigerians in matters concerning access to quality education.
The proposed fee review had been informed by prevailing economic realities and the rising cost of conducting credible national examinations. The Ministry noted that registration fees had remained largely unchanged for several years, despite significant increases in the cost of logistics, security, printing of examination materials, technology deployment and other services required to maintain the integrity of public examinations.
Notwithstanding these pressures, the Honourable Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Tunji Alausa, has directed that the proposal be placed on hold, in keeping with the Federal Government’s commitment to inclusive, transparent and evidence-based policymaking.
The Ministry said the decision reflected its determination to ensure that policies affecting millions of Nigerian students and their families are carefully considered and socially responsive.
As part of the renewed review process, the Ministry said it would engage extensively with examination bodies, State Ministries of Education, school proprietors and administrators, parents’ associations, organised labour and other education stakeholders, to ensure that any eventual decision is fair, sustainable and responsive to prevailing realities, while safeguarding access to education.
The Ministry confirmed that the proposed fee review would not take effect as earlier communicated, pending the conclusion of the consultation process.
It further reassured Nigerians that the welfare of students and equitable access to quality education remain central to the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in the education sector, and pledged to keep the public informed throughout the process.