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 following public criticism and calls for wider consultations.
The Federal Ministry of Education announced on Monday that it had withdrawn its June 18, 2026, letter conveying the proposed fee adjustment, pending a comprehensive review involving key stakeholders.
In a statement signed by the ministry's Director of Press and Public Relations, Boriowo Folasade, the government said the decision followed concerns raised by members of the public over the planned increase.
"The Federal Ministry of Education announced that the letter conveying the proposed fee adjustment, dated June 18, 2026, has been withdrawn to allow for a comprehensive review and broader consultations with all relevant stakeholders before a final decision is taken," the statement said.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 said the proposed adjustment was prompted by rising costs of conducting national examinations, including logistics, security, printing examination materials, technology deployment and quality assurance.
It noted that registration fees have remained largely unchanged for several years despite increasing operational expenses.
Minister of Education Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa directed that the proposal be put on hold, the ministry said, describing the move as part of the Federal Government's commitment to inclusive, transparent and evidence-based policymaking.
"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 added.
According to the ministry, consultations will be held with examination bodies, state ministries of education, school proprietors, school administrators, parents' associations, organized labour and other education stakeholders before any decision is reached.
It stressed that the proposed fee review will not take effect until the consultation process is completed.
The ministry also reaffirmed its commitment to students' welfare, equitable access to quality education and responsible policymaking, promising to keep the public informed throughout the review process.
The suspended proposal would have increased the registration fee for WAEC and NECO examinations from ₦27,500 to ₦50,000 beginning in 2027—an increase of about 82 percent.
The planned increase, announced in June after a request from WAEC, drew criticism from former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, the National Association of Nigerian Students and other stakeholders, who argued that the higher fees would place an additional financial burden on Nigerian families.
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