FG Suspends Planned WAEC, NECO Fee Hike After Public Outcry

The Federal Government has suspended the planned 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 concerns and calls for broader consultation.

The Federal Ministry of Education, in a statement issued on Monday, said it had withdrawn its earlier communication dated June 18, 2026, which conveyed the proposed fee adjustment, to allow for further engagement with relevant stakeholders before any final decision is reached.

The ministry said the suspension followed feedback from Nigerians and reflected the government’s commitment to transparent and inclusive policymaking.

According to the ministry, the proposed review was initially considered because of rising operational costs involved in conducting credible national examinations, including logistics, security arrangements, printing of examination materials, technology deployment, quality assurance and other processes required to maintain examination standards.

It explained that examination registration fees had remained largely unchanged for several years despite significant increases in the cost of delivering national examinations.

However, the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, directed that the proposal be suspended pending extensive consultations with key stakeholders in the education sector.

The ministry said the consultation process would involve examination bodies, state ministries of education, school owners and administrators, parents’ associations, organised labour and other relevant groups.

It stressed that the proposed adjustment would not take effect as earlier communicated until the consultation process is completed and a final decision is reached.

“The proposed review of examination registration fees will not take effect until the conclusion of the consultation process,” the ministry said.

The Federal Government said the decision was aimed at balancing the financial realities facing examination bodies with the need to protect students and families from additional burdens.

The ministry reaffirmed its commitment to improving access to quality education and ensuring that policies affecting millions of students are carefully considered before implementation.

It added that responsible decision-making remains central to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda for the education sector.

The government also thanked Nigerians for their feedback and assured stakeholders that updates would be provided as discussions on the proposed examination fee review continue.