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 Senior School Certificate Examination (NECO SSCE) following public concerns over the planned hike.
The government also stressed that no adjustment to examination fees would take effect until consultations with relevant stakeholders are concluded.
In a statement issued on Monday by the Federal Ministry of Education, the government announced the withdrawal of a June 18, 2026, letter that conveyed the proposed increase in examination fees.
The statement, signed by the ministry’s Director of Press and Public Relations, Folasade Boriowo, said the decision was taken to allow for a comprehensive review of the proposal and wider consultations before a final decision is made.
“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Ministry of Education announced that the letter conveying the proposed fee adjustment, dated 18 June 2026, has been withdrawn to allow for a comprehensive review and broader consultations with all relevant stakeholders before a final decision is taken,” the statement read.
The proposed adjustment would have increased the registration fee for both WAEC and NECO examinations from ₦27,500 to ₦50,000 from 2027, representing an 82 per cent increase.
According to the ministry, the proposed review was necessitated by the rising cost of conducting public examinations across the country. It noted that examination fees have remained largely unchanged for several years despite a significant increase in operational expenses.
The ministry explained that rising costs associated with logistics, security, printing of examination materials, technology deployment, quality assurance and other essential services have continued to place financial pressure on examination bodies.
However, it said the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, had directed that the implementation of the proposal be suspended pending consultations.
“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 added.
The ministry reiterated that no increase in examination fees would be implemented until discussions with stakeholders are completed.
It disclosed that the consultation process would involve examination bodies, state ministries of education, school proprietors and administrators, parents’ associations, organised labour, education stakeholders and other relevant partners.
The statement added that the Federal Government remains committed to ensuring that policies affecting students and their families undergo adequate scrutiny and reflect the public interest.
Reaffirming its commitment, the ministry said students’ welfare, equitable access to quality education and responsible policymaking remain at the heart of the government’s education agenda.
It also assured Nigerians that the public would be kept informed throughout the consultation process before any final decision is taken on the proposed examination fee review.
