ABUJA: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 criticism from parents, students and education stakeholders.
The decision was announced on Monday by the Federal Ministry of Education, which confirmed that it had withdrawn its earlier directive proposing the fee adjustment and would instead embark on extensive consultations before making any final decision.
In a statement issued by the ministry’s Director of Press and Public Relations, Boriowo Folasade, the government said the suspension reflects its commitment to transparent and inclusive policymaking while acknowledging the concerns raised by Nigerians over the planned increase.
According to the ministry, the proposal contained in a letter dated June 18, 2026, has been put on hold pending a comprehensive review involving key stakeholders across the education sector.
The ministry explained that although the proposed fee review was informed by prevailing economic realities and the rising cost of conducting national examinations, the government decided it was necessary to engage the public before implementing such a policy.
Officials noted that examination registration fees have remained largely unchanged for several years despite increasing operational expenses associated with organizing credible examinations nationwide.
These costs include the printing and distribution of examination materials, transportation and logistics, security arrangements, technology deployment, quality assurance measures and other administrative services required to safeguard the integrity of public examinations.
Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, directed that the proposed fee increase be suspended to allow for wider consultations with stakeholders.
The ministry said the decision aligns with the Federal Government’s commitment to ensuring that policies affecting millions of Nigerian students and their families are developed through broad participation and careful consideration.
According to the statement, the government recognizes the financial burden many households currently face and wants to ensure that any future decision balances the need for sustainable examination funding with access to affordable education.
As part of the review process, the Ministry of Education said it would hold consultations with major stakeholders, including examination bodies, state ministries of education, private and public school administrators, parents’ associations, labour unions and other education experts.
The engagement is expected to produce recommendations that reflect both the country’s economic realities and the need to maintain high standards in the administration of national examinations.
The ministry emphasized that no adjustment to WAEC or NECO registration fees will take effect until the consultation process has been completed and a final policy decision has been reached.
Reassuring Nigerians, the ministry reiterated that improving access to quality education remains one of the priorities of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
It stressed that the welfare of students, affordability of education and responsible policy implementation remain central to the administration’s education reforms.
The government also thanked parents, students, teachers and other stakeholders for their constructive feedback and patience, promising to keep the public informed throughout the review process.
The suspension has been welcomed by many Nigerians who had expressed concerns that higher examination fees would place additional financial pressure on families already grappling with inflation and rising living costs.
Education stakeholders had earlier urged the Federal Government to reconsider the proposal, warning that increased registration fees could discourage some students from sitting for crucial secondary school examinations.
With the suspension now in effect, candidates preparing for future WAEC and NECO examinations can expect the current fee structure to remain in place until consultations are concluded and a new decision is announced.
The development underscores the government’s willingness to review sensitive policies in response to public feedback while seeking solutions that ensure both affordable education and sustainable funding for national examination bodies.
