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), following widespread public criticism and concerns over the potential impact of the policy on millions of Nigerian students and their families.
The Federal Ministry of Education (FME), in a statement issued on Monday, announced the withdrawal of its June 18, 2026 letter conveying the proposed fee adjustment, saying the decision was taken to allow for a comprehensive review and extensive consultations with relevant stakeholders before any final decision is reached.
The move came barely days after reports emerged that the government had proposed raising the registration fee for both WAEC and NECO Senior School Certificate Examinations from ₦27,500 to ₦50,000 beginning in 2027—an increase of about 82 per cent. The proposal triggered widespread criticism from parents, students, education stakeholders, labour groups and political figures, who argued that the increase would further worsen the financial burden on families already grappling with rising living costs.
In the statement signed by the Ministry’s Director of Press and Public Relations, Mrs. Folasade Boriowo, the Ministry acknowledged the concerns expressed by Nigerians and appreciated the public’s engagement on issues affecting access to quality education.
According to the Ministry, the proposed fee review was informed by prevailing economic realities and the increasing cost of conducting credible national examinations across the country.
It explained that examination registration fees had remained largely unchanged for several years despite significant increases in operational expenses, including logistics, security, printing of examination materials, technology deployment, quality assurance and other critical services required to safeguard the integrity of public examinations.
“The Ministry acknowledges the concerns and constructive feedback received from the public and appreciates the keen interest shown by Nigerians in matters relating to access to quality education,” the statement noted.
The Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, subsequently directed that the proposal be suspended, reaffirming the Federal Government’s commitment to inclusive, transparent and evidence-based policymaking.
The Ministry said the suspension underscores government’s determination to ensure that policies affecting millions of candidates and their families are subjected to broad consultation and careful consideration before implementation.
As part of the review process, the Ministry disclosed that it would engage the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), the National Examinations Council (NECO), State Ministries of Education, school proprietors and administrators, parents’ associations, organised labour, civil society organisations and other key education stakeholders.
It stressed that no adjustment to examination registration fees would take effect until the consultation process is concluded and a consensus-driven decision is reached.
The Ministry also reiterated that the welfare of students, equitable access to quality education and responsible policymaking remain central to the education agenda of the President Bola Tinubu administration.
Education stakeholders have welcomed the suspension as a positive step, describing dialogue as essential before implementing policies with significant implications for access to secondary education. Many had argued that although examination bodies face rising operational costs driven by inflation, security challenges and increased logistics expenses, any increase in registration fees should be accompanied by measures to protect students from low-income households.
The Federal Government assured Nigerians that it would continue to engage all relevant stakeholders and keep the public informed throughout the consultation process before arriving at any final decision on the proposed fee review.