FG Suspends Planned 2027 WAEC, NECO Registration 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 broader consultations with stakeholders.
The decision was announced in a statement issued on Monday by the Federal Ministry of Education and signed by its Director of Press and Public Relations, Folasade Boriowo.
According to the ministry, the letter dated June 18, 2026, which conveyed the proposed fee adjustment, has been withdrawn to allow for a comprehensive review and extensive consultations before any final decision is taken.
The ministry said the suspension followed public concerns and feedback over the planned increase.
It explained that the proposed review was necessitated by the rising cost of conducting national examinations, noting that examination registration fees had remained largely unchanged for several years despite increasing operational expenses.
The ministry identified rising costs in logistics, security, printing of examination materials, technology deployment, quality assurance and other essential services as key factors behind the proposed adjustment.
Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, directed that the proposal be placed on hold, reaffirming the Federal Government’s commitment to inclusive, transparent and evidence-based policymaking.
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“The Honourable Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, 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 added that consultations would be conducted with examination bodies, state ministries of education, school proprietors and administrators, parents’ associations, organised labour, education stakeholders and other critical partners before any decision is reached.
It stressed that the proposed review of examination registration fees would not take effect until the consultation process is concluded.
Reaffirming its commitment to students’ welfare and equitable access to quality education, the ministry pledged to keep the public informed throughout the consultation process.
The suspension comes weeks after the Federal Government approved a new registration fee of ₦50,000 for WAEC and NECO examinations beginning in 2027, representing an 82 per cent increase from the current ₦27,500.
The approval, contained in a June 18, 2026, directive signed by the Director of Senior Secondary Education, Adeniji Ibrahim, followed a request by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) for an upward review of examination fees.
The proposed increase had attracted widespread criticism from stakeholders, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), who urged the government to reconsider the policy in view of the prevailing economic challenges facing Nigerian families.
By PRNigeria
