Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) have criticised the Federal Government’s proposed increase in the registration fees for the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and the National Examinations Council (NECO) Senior School Certificate Examination to #50,000 from 2027.
The proposed fee hike has sparked widespread debate, with critics warning that it could place an additional financial burden on millions of Nigerian families already grappling with rising living costs.
In a statement, Atiku described the proposed increase as ill-timed, arguing that making secondary school examinations more expensive would further restrict access to education for students from low-income households.
He urged the Federal Government to reconsider the proposal and adopt policies that make education more affordable rather than creating additional barriers for young Nigerians.
According to the former presidential candidate, access to quality education should remain a national priority, especially at a time when many families are facing economic hardship.
Similarly, NANS condemned the proposed increase, describing it as unacceptable and capable of worsening the country’s education challenges.
The student body argued that many parents and guardians already struggle to pay existing examination fees alongside other educational expenses, including tuition, textbooks, transportation, and school uniforms.
NANS warned that increasing the fees to ₦50,000 could force some students to defer or abandon their examinations altogether, particularly those from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.
The association called on the Federal Government and relevant examination bodies to engage stakeholders before implementing any adjustment to examination fees.
It also urged the authorities to explore alternative funding mechanisms that would enable examination bodies to maintain operational standards without transferring the financial burden to students and their families.
Education advocates have also expressed concern over the proposal, noting that affordability remains one of the key factors influencing school enrolment and completion rates across the country.
They argue that higher examination fees could widen educational inequality by making it more difficult for students in rural communities and low-income households to complete their secondary education.
The proposed adjustment comes amid ongoing efforts by the government to reform Nigeria’s education sector and improve learning outcomes. However, stakeholders insist that any policy changes should balance the financial sustainability of examination bodies with the need to guarantee equitable access to education.
As public debate continues, many parents, teachers, and civil society organisations have called on the government to review the proposal through broader consultations with education stakeholders.
The Federal Government and the examination bodies are yet to issue a detailed response to the criticisms raised by Atiku, NANS, and other stakeholders over the proposed fee increase.
If implemented, the new fee structure would take effect from the 2027 examination cycle, making it one of the most significant changes to the cost of external secondary school examinations in recent years.
