FG Suspends Planned WAEC, NECO Fee Increase After Public Outcry

The Federal Government has suspended the proposed increase in registration fees for the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and the National Examinations Council Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE), pending wider consultations with stakeholders.

The Federal Ministry of Education announced on Monday that it had withdrawn its June 18, 2026 letter conveying the proposed fee adjustment to allow for a comprehensive review of the policy.

In a statement signed by the Ministry’s Director of Press and Public Relations, Mrs. Boriowo Folasade, the government said the decision followed concerns and feedback from members of the public over the planned increase.

According to the Ministry, the proposed fee review was necessitated by the rising cost of conducting public examinations, noting that examination registration fees had remained largely unchanged for several years despite increasing operational expenses.

The Ministry cited escalating costs in logistics, security, printing of examination materials, technology deployment, quality assurance and other essential services required to sustain the credibility and integrity of national examinations.

Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, directed that the proposal be put on hold, stressing the Federal Government’s commitment to inclusive, transparent and evidence-based policymaking.

“The proposal has been placed on hold to enable broader consultations with all relevant stakeholders before a final decision is reached,” the ministry stated.

The Ministry added that consultations would involve examination bodies, state ministries of education, school proprietors and administrators, parents’ associations, organised labour and other key education stakeholders.

It assured Nigerians that the proposed fee increase would not take effect until the consultation process is concluded and a consensus is reached.

The Federal Government reiterated that students’ welfare, equitable access to quality education and responsible policymaking remain central to its education agenda, pledging to keep the public informed throughout the review process.

The suspended proposal had approved a new examination registration fee of N50,000 for WAEC and NECO candidates from 2027, representing an 82 per cent increase from the current fee of N27,500.

The proposed increment followed a request by WAEC for an upward review of the Senior School Certificate Examination fees beginning from 2027.

The planned hike had attracted widespread criticism from stakeholders, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and the National Association of Nigerian Students, who argued that the increase would place additional financial burdens on parents and students amid prevailing economic challenges.