FG Withdraws Proposed ₦50,000 WAEC, NECO Fee Increase

The Federal Government has suspended the 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, pending consultations with key stakeholders.

The decision was announced in a statement issued on Monday by the Federal Ministry of Education, which said the letter conveying the proposed fee adjustment, dated June 18, 2026, has been withdrawn to allow for a comprehensive review before any final decision is made.

According to the statement, signed by the ministry’s Director of Press and Public Relations, Boriowo Folasade, the suspension followed widespread public reactions and feedback over the proposed increase.

The ministry explained that the proposed review was necessitated by the rising cost of conducting national examinations, noting that examination registration fees have remained largely unchanged for several years despite increasing operational expenses.

It cited higher costs associated with logistics, security, printing of examination materials, deployment of technology, quality assurance and other services required to maintain the integrity and credibility of public examinations.

The statement added that the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, directed that the proposal be placed on hold in line with the Federal Government’s commitment to transparent, inclusive and evidence-based policymaking.

According to the ministry, the decision reflects the government’s resolve to ensure that policies affecting students and their families are carefully reviewed and aligned with the public interest.

It disclosed that consultations would be held with examination bodies, state ministries of education, school owners and administrators, parents’ associations, organised labour, education stakeholders and other relevant partners before any decision is reached.

The ministry stressed that the proposed review of examination registration fees will not take effect until the consultation process is concluded.

It also reaffirmed that students’ welfare, equitable access to quality education and responsible policymaking remain central to the Federal Government’s education agenda, assuring Nigerians that updates would be provided as consultations progress.

The Federal Government had earlier approved a uniform ₦50,000 registration fee for WAEC and NECO examinations from 2027, representing an 82 per cent increase from the current fee of ₦27,500.

The approval, announced in a letter dated June 18, 2026, followed a request by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) for an upward review of examination fees.

The proposal had attracted widespread criticism, with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) among those who opposed the planned increase, arguing that it would further limit access to education for many Nigerian students.