FG Suspends Planned WAEC, NECO Examination Fee Increase
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, pending extensive consultations with key stakeholders.
The decision was announced on Monday in a statement issued by the Federal Ministry of Education and signed by the Director of Press and Public Relations, Boriowo Folasade.
According to the ministry, the letter dated June 18, 2026, which communicated the proposed fee adjustment, has been withdrawn to allow for a comprehensive review and broader engagement with stakeholders before any final decision is made.
“The letter conveying the proposed fee adjustment, dated 18 June 2026, has been withdrawn to allow for a comprehensive review and broader consultations with all relevant stakeholders before a final decision is taken,” the ministry stated.
The ministry explained that the proposed review was informed by the rising cost of conducting public examinations. It noted that examination fees have remained largely unchanged for years despite increasing expenses associated with logistics, security, printing of examination materials, technology deployment, quality assurance and other operational requirements needed to maintain the integrity of national examinations.
The statement added that the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, directed that the proposal be put on hold as part of the Federal Government’s commitment to transparent, inclusive 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 statement said.
The ministry assured Nigerians that consultations would be held with examination bodies, state ministries of education, school owners, administrators, parents’ associations, organised labour and other education stakeholders before any decision on the fee review is reached.
It stressed that the proposed increase would not take effect until the consultation process is completed, reaffirming that students’ welfare, equitable access to quality education and responsible policymaking remain central to the government’s education agenda.
The suspension follows widespread criticism that greeted the earlier approval of a uniform examination fee of ₦50,000 for WAEC and NECO candidates beginning in 2027, representing an 82 per cent increase from the current fee of ₦27,500.
The proposed hike had drawn opposition from former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), who argued that the increase would place additional financial pressure on Nigerian families already struggling with the rising cost of living.
