FG Suspends Proposed WAEC, NECO Fee Hike Pending Consultations
The Federal Government has suspended the proposed review of registration fees for the 2027 West African Senior School Certificate Examination, WASSCE, and the National Examinations Council Senior School Certificate Examination, NECO SSCE, pending wider consultations with stakeholders.
In a statement issued on Monday, the Federal Ministry of Education said the letter conveying the proposed fee adjustment, dated June 18, 2026, had been withdrawn to allow for a comprehensive review before any final decision.
According to the Ministry, the suspension followed concerns and feedback from members of the public.
“The Federal Ministry of Education announces that the letter conveying the proposed fee adjustment, dated 18 June 2026, has been withdrawn to allow for a comprehensive review and broader consultations with all relevant stakeholders before a final decision is taken,” the statement, signed by the Director of Press and Public Relations, Boriowo Folasade, read.
The Ministry said the proposed review was driven by rising costs associated with conducting national examinations. It noted that registration fees have remained largely unchanged for several years despite increasing operational expenses in logistics, security, printing of examination materials, technology deployment, and quality assurance.
“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 said consultations would be held with examination bodies, state ministries of education, school proprietors and administrators, parents’ associations, organised labour, and other critical education stakeholders 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.
The statement reiterated that students’ welfare, equitable access to quality education, and responsible policymaking remain central to the Federal Government’s education agenda, and pledged to keep the public informed throughout the process.
The Ministry had earlier, in a June 18, 2026 memo signed by the Director of Senior Secondary Education, Adeniji Ibrahim, indicated approval for a proposed new fee of N50,000 for WAEC and NECO for secondary school candidates from 2027.
The initial registration fee was N27,500, representing an 82 per cent increase. The proposal followed a request by WAEC for an upward review of SSCE fees for candidates from 2027.
The development drew criticism from stakeholders, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and the National Association of Nigerian Students, who kicked against the planned hike.
