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 (SSCE), following widespread public criticism and concerns over the affordability of the planned adjustment.
The Federal Ministry of Education announced the decision in a statement issued on Monday by its Director of Press and Public Relations, Boriowo Folasade. The ministry said it had withdrawn its June 18, 2026, letter conveying the proposed fee review to allow for broader consultations with key stakeholders before any final decision is made.
According to the ministry, the proposed fee review was prompted by rising operational costs associated with conducting credible public examinations, including logistics, security, printing of examination materials, technology deployment, quality assurance and other essential services.
However, the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, directed that the proposal be placed on hold in line with the Federal Government’s commitment to inclusive, transparent and evidence-based policymaking.
“The proposed review of examination registration fees will not take effect as earlier communicated pending the conclusion of the consultation process,” the ministry said, adding that the government had taken note of the concerns and constructive feedback expressed by Nigerians.
As part of the review, the ministry said it would engage extensively with examination bodies, state ministries of education, school proprietors and administrators, parents’ associations, organised labour, education stakeholders and other relevant groups to ensure that any future decision is fair, transparent and sustainable.
The ministry stressed that the consultations are intended to strike a balance between the financial realities of administering national examinations and the need to preserve access to education for millions of Nigerian students.
The suspension comes barely a day after the ministry approved a proposal to harmonise WAEC and NECO registration fees at #50,000 per candidate for the 2027 examinations, a move that drew criticism from students, parents, labour groups and opposition figures, who argued that the increase would impose additional financial burdens on families already grappling with economic hardship.
