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), pending broader consultations with stakeholders.
In a statement issued on Monday, the Federal Ministry of Education said the letter conveying the proposed fee adjustment, dated June 18, 2026, had been withdrawn to allow for a comprehensive review before any final decision is reached.
The ministry, in the statement signed by its Director of Press and Public Relations, Boriowo Folasade, said the decision followed concerns and feedback from members of the public.
“The Federal Ministry of Education announced that the letter conveying the proposed fee adjustment, dated 18 June 2026, has been withdrawn to allow for a comprehensive review and broader consultations with all relevant stakeholders before a final decision is taken,” the statement said.
The ministry explained that the proposed review was prompted by rising costs associated with conducting national examinations, noting that registration fees had remained largely unchanged for several years despite increasing operational expenses.
It listed higher costs of logistics, security, printing of examination materials, technology deployment, quality assurance and other services required to maintain the integrity of public examinations as factors behind the proposed adjustment.
The Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, directed that the proposal be suspended in line with the Federal Government’s commitment to inclusive, transparent and evidence-based policymaking.
“The Honourable Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, CON, has directed that the proposal be placed on hold in line with the Federal Government’s commitment to inclusive, transparent and evidence-based policymaking,” the ministry said.
The ministry said the suspension was aimed at ensuring that policies affecting students and families are carefully considered and aligned with public interest.
It added that consultations would be held with examination bodies, state ministries of education, school owners and administrators, parents’ associations, organised labour, and other education stakeholders before any decision is made.
Consequently, the proposed review of examination registration fees will not take effect as earlier announced until the consultation process is concluded.
The Federal Government had earlier approved an increase in the registration fee for WAEC and NECO candidates from ₦27,500 to ₦50,000 beginning in 2027, representing an 82 per cent increase.
The approval followed a request from the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) for an upward review of the Senior School Certificate Examination fee.
The proposed increase had drawn criticism from some groups, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), who opposed the introduction of a uniform ₦50,000 examination fee for secondary school candidates.
The Ministry of Education reiterated that students’ welfare, equitable access to education and responsible policymaking remain central to the government’s education agenda, adding that updates would be provided as consultations progress.
