Former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi has welcomed the Federal Government’s decision to suspend the proposed review of registration fees for the 2027 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and the National Examinations Council (NECO) Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE), describing the move as a “victory for the Nigerian people.”
The Federal Government on Monday suspended the planned fee adjustment and withdrew its June 18, 2026 approval letter to allow for wider consultations with relevant stakeholders.
The Ministry of Education had said the proposed increase was driven by rising costs associated with conducting national examinations but was suspended following public concerns and in line with the government’s commitment to inclusive and evidence-based policymaking.
Reacting in a post on his X account on Monday, Obi commended the decision, but argued that the proposed increase should not have been introduced in the first place.
“I received the welcome news of the suspension of the newly introduced examination fees with relief. This is a victory for the Nigerian people,” Obi wrote.
The former Anambra State governor said the proposed fee increase would have placed additional pressure on families already facing economic difficulties and could have further limited access to education.
“While I commend the authorities for listening to the widespread public outcry and suspending the policy, it must be said that the fee was an unnecessary burden that should never have been introduced at this time of great hardship, when we should be doing everything possible to invest in basic education and reduce the millions of out-of-school children in Nigeria,” he said.
Obi maintained that education should remain accessible to all Nigerians, arguing that government policies should focus on expanding opportunities rather than creating financial barriers.
“At a time when many families are struggling to make ends meet, access to education should be expanded, not restricted.
“Education is a fundamental right and a public good, not a source of government revenue,” he added.
He further warned that additional charges at the basic education level could discourage school enrolment and prevent children from accessing education.
“Imposing multiple fees at the basic education level risks denying many children their right to education. At that stage, the state has a duty to invest in educating and preparing its citizens for productive lives, not to erect financial barriers that keep them out of school,” Obi stated.
The former presidential candidate said true leadership requires the willingness to review decisions that negatively affect citizens.
“True leadership is demonstrated not only by making decisions but also by having the humility to reverse policies that impose unnecessary hardship on the people. Many other anti-people policies deserve similar reconsideration,” he said.
Obi also thanked parents, citizens and advocacy groups who opposed the proposed fee adjustment, saying their concerns contributed to the government’s decision to suspend the policy.
