FG SUSPENDS PROPOSED N50,000 WAEC, NECO FEE HIKE
Read Time:2 Minute, 25 Second
By ‘Sefiu Ajape
The Federal Government has suspended the proposed increase in registration fees for the 2027 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and National Examinations Council (NECO) Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE), pending broader consultations with stakeholders.
In a statement issued on Monday by the Federal Ministry of Education, the ministry said the letter conveying the proposed fee adjustment, dated June 18, 2026, had been withdrawn to allow for a comprehensive review before any final decision is reached.
The statement, signed by the Director of Press and Public Relations, Boriowo Folasade, said the suspension followed concerns and feedback from members of the public.
“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Ministry of Education announced that the letter conveying the proposed fee adjustment, dated 18 June 2026, has been withdrawn to allow for a comprehensive review and broader consultations with all relevant stakeholders before a final decision is taken,” the statement said.
The ministry explained that the proposed review was prompted by rising costs associated with conducting national examinations, noting that registration fees had remained largely unchanged for several years despite increased operational expenses.
It listed higher costs of logistics, security, printing of examination materials, technology deployment, quality assurance, and other services required to maintain the credibility of public examinations as factors behind the proposed adjustment.
The ministry said the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, directed that the proposal be suspended in line with the Federal Government’s commitment to inclusive and evidence-based policymaking.
“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 said.
The ministry added that consultations would be held with examination bodies, state ministries of education, school proprietors and administrators, parents’ associations, organised labour, education stakeholders and other relevant partners before any decision is made.
It stressed that the proposed review of examination registration fees would not take effect as earlier communicated until the consultation process is concluded.
The Federal Ministry of Education reiterated its commitment to students’ welfare, equitable access to quality education, and responsible policymaking, adding that the public would be updated throughout the consultation process.
The suspension comes days after the Federal Government announced approval for a new ₦50,000 registration fee for WAEC and NECO examinations for secondary school candidates from 2027.
The proposed fee represented an increase from the previous ₦27,500, amounting to an 82 per cent hike.
In a June 18, 2026 letter signed by the Director of Senior Secondary Education at the Ministry of Education, Adeniji Ibrahim, the approval followed a request by WAEC for an upward review of the Senior School Certificate Examination fee from 2027.
The proposed increase had drawn criticism from former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and the National Association of Nigerian Students, who described the move as an additional burden on students and families.
Happy
0 %
Sad
0 %
Excited
0 %
Sleepy
0 %
Angry
0 %
Surprise
0 %
0
0