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 wider consultations with key stakeholders.
The decision was announced in a statement issued on Monday by the Federal Ministry of Education, which disclosed that the letter conveying the proposed fee adjustment, dated June 18, 2026, had been withdrawn to allow for a comprehensive review before any final decision is taken.
The statement, signed by the ministry’s Director of Press and Public Relations, Boriowo Folasade, said the suspension followed concerns and feedback received from members of the public.
According to the ministry, the proposed fee review was necessitated by the rising cost of conducting national examinations, noting that registration fees had remained largely unchanged for several years despite increasing operational expenses.
The ministry cited higher costs associated with logistics, security, printing of examination materials, technology deployment, quality assurance, and other essential services required to maintain the credibility of public examinations.
It stated that the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, directed that the proposal be put on hold in line with the Federal Government’s commitment to inclusive, transparent, and evidence-based policymaking.
The ministry said the decision reflects its commitment to ensuring that policies affecting students and their families are carefully considered and responsive to public interest.
It added that consultations would be held 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.
Accordingly, the proposed review of examination registration fees will not take effect as earlier communicated until the consultation process is completed.
The ministry reiterated that students’ welfare, equitable access to quality education, and responsible policymaking remain central to the Federal Government’s education agenda, assuring the public that updates would be provided throughout the consultation process.
The suspension follows the Federal Government’s earlier approval of a ₦50,000 registration fee for WAEC and NECO examinations from 2027, representing an 82 per cent increase from the previous ₦27,500 fee after a request by WAEC for an upward review.
The proposed increase had drawn criticism from several groups, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), who urged the government to reconsider the planned hike.
